Kong Xiangrui, a national model worker, started out the Tianjin leg of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay at the Tianjin harbor at 8:10 a.m. on Friday. The torch will stay in Tianjin for two days. The first day's route spans 10 kilometers and will be run by 191 bearers. Famous bearers include China women's volleyball player Li Shan, singer Liu Huan, pianist Li Yundi, Olympic kung fu champion Lang Rongbiao and actor Ge You.

TianJin is one of the four cities directly governed by the Chinese government and the largest coast city in northern China. Since the reformation, TianJin has changed greatly, becoming one of the fastest growing cities in northern China. Tianjin is also home to China's largest manmade port and potential consumer market.

The torch's next destination will be the Sichuan Province on August 3rd.

(BOCOG August 1, 2008)