Students of Uygur minority ethnic group cheer along the torch route this morning.

Residents turned out in full force yesterday morning, with hundreds of thousands gathering in well-known venues, including People's Square and the Bund along the Huangpu River.

A brief opening ceremony was held at the Shanghai Museum at 8am, preceded by a minute's silence for quake victims. Donation boxes were to the fore and the words of care and love were repeatedly mentioned in addresses by city officials.

During a short speech, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng welcomed the arrival of the Olympic flame on behalf of the 19 million citizens of the city. He said Shanghai people are tied with quake victims "heart to heart" and the relay is passing on the spirit of braveness and perseverance.

The flame was escorted in about 8:10am after Han's speech. Shanghai Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng received the flame from an official with the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee. The moment triggered cheers from flag-waving spectators.

Former Olympic swimming gold medalist, Shanghai's own Zhuang Yong, became the first torchbearer as she took the flaming torch from Yu. As Zhuang jogged off, torch aloft, hundreds of pigeons were released.

"I believe this is a once-in-1,000-year event ... I'm so excited and will remember this for the rest of my life,'' said a woman, 50, surnamed Zhu, who is an official with the Dingxing Neighborhood Committee on Nanjing Road. She arrived very early with other residents of her neighborhood.

There was a sea of red on the streets, from the national flags people waved to the "Love China" logos marked on faces and T-shirts.

Young people formed groups around People's Square, singing patriotic songs, chanting slogans or just plain cheering.