First torchbearer Tian Yu carried the Olympic flame at 8:15 on Monday from Zhongshan Bridge, marking the start of the Lanzhou leg of the torch Relay and the last stop in Gansu Province.

A local official receives the torch from Lu Mingde in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, on July 7, 2008.

Tian Yu, who has made great contributions to the Sichuan quake relief work, overcame loss of his home and family members during the May 12 earthquake to lead paramilitary personnel in rescuing eight residents, saving 3,000 tons of grain and more than 2,000 goods from destruction and resettling 1,100 quake victims.

First torchbearer Tian Yu holds up the torch in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, on July 7, 2008.

A total of 296 torchbearers will participate in the 15.6-km long relay.

Tang Zhongli, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Gao Xionghou, who has done research on oil refinement; Li Yuanzhen, an imam of Hui Ethnic Minority; Ma Ying, a softball coach; and Zhu Jun, a CCTV host, are among the torchbearers.

At 11: 45 a.m. Zhu Jun lit the cauldron at the Waterwheel Exhibition Park, marking the end to the Lanzhou leg of the torch relay and the last stop in Gansu Province.