Paralympics torch lighting ceremony

The Beijing Paralympic torch lighting ceremony will take place at the Temple of Heaven on August 28, 2008. The lighting of the Paralympics flame is meant to symbolize the connection between heaven and man.

The Beijing Paralympics Torch Relay begins on August 29 and will last through September 6.  The relay will follow two routes simultaneously; the “Route of Ancient China” and the “Route of Modern China.” Along the two routes there will be a total of 850 torchbearers.

The Ancient China route will start at the Temple of Heaven.  This route will proceed to pass through ancient Chinese capitals or cities of historic and cultural significance.  Cities along this route include Xi’an, Hohhot, Changsha, Nanjing and Luoyang.

While the Modern China route also begins at the Temple of Heaven. It will pass through some of the nation’s more developed cities.  Cities along the modern route include Shenzhen, Wuhan, Qingdao, Dalian and Shanghai.

On September 5, the two relay routes will meet in Beijing. The flame’s will continue their tour of Beijing before the lighting of the main cauldron at the Bird’s Nest on September 6.