Olympic torch relay concludes in Dunhuang

The Olympic torch relay has completed its tour of the historic city of Dunhuang, the first stage in the northwestern province of Gansu.

First to run was Fan Jinshi, the director of the Dunhuang Academy. She started from the square of the Mogao Caves, shrines of Buddhist art treasures.

Dunhuang used to be called "Shazhou", or "beautiful desert oasis". The city served as the junction of the Northern and Southern Silk Roads in ancient times. Today its precious art heritage lives amid beautiful landscapes.

Tourists can take camel rides to Yueyaquan, a crescent-shaped lake, and the Singing Sands, where the wind plays along the dunes.

120 torchbearers carried the flame along a route covering 7.6 kilometers. One rode a camel for 70 meters, representing the city's history with the ancient Silk Road.

The torch moves on to the city of Jiayuguan on Sunday.