The Olympic torch was carried through scenic Huizhou in Friday's relay, the third stop in Guangdong Province, with the local backstroker Chen Xiujun bearing the first leg.

Chen, 22, finished first in women's 200m backstroke at China's national games 2001. Then a year later, she was ranked fourth at the Busan Asian Games in the event. In the 2004 Athens Games, Chen settled with the fourth place in 4x100m medley.

The itinerary lasted for 30 kilometers, covering lake-encircling scenery, avenues, tree-thriving massif, demonstrating a scene of "half landscape and half lake" in the city, which has two rivers and a zigzag lake located in downtown area.

As usual in torch relay, thousands of residents occupied the sidewalk along the route, presenting a grand ovation for the passing of Olympic flame in their hometown.

Other top athletes in torch bearers include Liang Wenbo, a snooker player and Lv Qin, a chess master and Zhong Xiu'e, a retired wrestler.

Besides, workers, servicemen, entrepreneurs, army officers and merchants are all taken into account in the relay.

Lv Qin, a team and individual world chess champion, is the last one in the day's relay.

"I would like to put my torch in my chess club, so as to let more people see it and be part of the Olympic Games," said 47-year-old Lv, who started playing chess when he was seven.

Liang was the champion at the 2005 world youth billiard championships, and also was the team champion at the Doha Asian Games 2006. He reached the quarterfinals at the World Championships 2008.

Zhong Xiu'e boasted a five-time world champion in a row and was entitled "Top Ten Wrestlers in 20th Century".

The Huizhou relay started at 8:10 a.m. local time in the City Stadium Square, set to pass East River Bridge, East River Sands Park, Rivers Joining Building, Pen Pagoda, Ancient City Gate, Flat Lake Gate, Huabianling Square, Centurymart, Huizhou College, South Line Intersection, Red Flower Lake, West Lake Gate, Ciyun Pavilion and Huizhou Bridge before reaching the destination Civic Eden.