KUNMING: The World Horticulture Expo Garden in Kunming, capital of Yunnan, was more colorful than ever on Monday, as thousands of residents from 26 nationalities donned their festive costumes to cheer the start of the three-day torch relay in the province.

Performers in ethnic costumes play the drum inside the World Horticulture Expo Garden in Kunming June 9, 2008, to cheer to cheer the start of the three-day torch relay in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. [Xinhua]

Symbols of the Olympics, such as the logo of the Beijing Games and the five rings were found in the arrangement of flowers and the opening performance, which featured 2,008 drums.

One hundred torchbearers took part in the run around the Garden in the northeastern part of the city, while 108 others ran in the southeastern part of the city. The leg ended at the Yunnan Nationalities Village, close to Dianchi Lake.

Home to 25 ethnic minorities, including Bai, Naxi, Hani, Dai, Lisu and Dai, the village is "a living capsule of Yunnan as home to the most variety of ethnic culture in China," an unnamed local official.

Villagers lined both sides of the relay route to show off their costumes, and perform songs and dances.

At one point on the route, fire basins were arranged in the road and torchbearer Henry Aguilera from Colombia jumped over them. The crowd, mostly people of the Bai and Dai ethnic minorities, applauded, as they believe such an act will bring good luck to Aguilera.

Jiang Shaomin was the final torchbearer and she lit the cauldron at the end of her run.

The 63-year-old veteran gymnast and coach from Kunming extended her best wishes to the Beijing Olympics and called for support for the survivors of the Sichuan quake.

"While we all wish for a better life and a stronger country, let us not forget the pain and hardship our brothers and sisters in Sichuan are facing," Jiang said.

"Let's join hands to build a brighter future."

The torch relay ended with a chorus of a song specially written in support of the rebuilding effort in Sichuan. "Wipe away the tears, let's start again and soon Sichuan will be up again," the people sang.