The Olympic torch relay kicked off in Shenyang, the biggest city of northeastern China and also capital of Liaoning Province, at 8:08 a.m local time on Thursday.

Liu Hongtu, son of Liu Changchun, the first Chinese to participate in the Olympics, carried the torch as the first torch runner.

The torch relay started at the International Horticultural Garden and will cover 10.4 kilometers.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2008)