The planned route for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing was unveiled yesterday at a ceremony at the China Millennium Monument to mark the one-year countdown to the start of the Games.

Under the theme of "Transcendence, Equality and Integration", three torch relays will start simultaneously in China and then follow different routes.

On August 28, 2008, the Paralympic flame will be lit at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing marking the start of a 10-day relay.

Its route will take in several future Paralympic cities including Beijing, Vancouver, London, Sochi, and Hong Kong, the host of the equestrian events at next year's Games. At the same time, two other relays will begin, with the themes of "Modern China" and "Ancient China".

The Modern route will visit Shenzhen, Chongqing, Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian and Tianjin in recognition of the great achievements of modern China.

The Ancient route will take in Huangdi Mausoleum, Xi'an, Hohhot, Urumqi, Chengdu, Changsha, Nanjing and Luoyang to show the country's rich culture.

The three torches will meet again in Beijing on September 5, where together they will light the main cauldron of the 2008 Games on September 6.

Also at yesterday's ceremony, invitation letters were sent out to representatives of the Canadian, British, Russian and Chinese National Paralympic Committees.

(China Daily September 7, 2007)