Hebei Province welcomed the Olympic torch on Tuesday morning as first torchbearer Li Meisu set off from the Xibaipo Memorial Museum at 8:15 a.m.

Li, an Olympic bronze medalist, three-time Asian champion and 12-time Chinese champion in shot put, is one of 188 torchbearers scheduled to cover the 9.3-km relay route in Shijiazhuang.

The Torch Relay will continue in Qinhuangdao, an Olympic co-host city, on July 30 and in Tangshan on July 31.

(BOCOG July 29, 2008)