The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Zhengzhou, capital city of China's most populous Henan province, started at 8:08 a.m. on Friday morning at the Henan Art Center Plaza.

Xu Guangchun, the provincial governor, proclaimed the start of the torch relay amid people's exclamation and cheers. Zhengzhou, dubbed as "Green City" for its flourish vegetation, is the first city to embrace the Olympic torch in the province.

Volleyball player, Zhang Rongfang starts the Olympic torch relay in Zhengzhou, Henan Province July 25.

The first leg was run by Zhang Rongfang, a former Chinese women volleyball player and national team captain. Zhang is now a senior official with China's General Administration Bureau of Sport in charge of volleyball.

At 10:20 a.m., the torch relay concluded at the Zhengzhou International Exhibition Hall.

Hai Xia, a news anchor from the China Central Television (CCTV) carries the Olympic torch in Zhengzhou, Henan Province July 25.

As the torchbearer entered the exhibition hall, several thousand of locals burst into cheers.

Wu Jiangxing, head of the People's Liberation Army Information Engineering University and the last torchbearer in Zhengzhou leg, lit the caldron.

"I am proud and excited in the holy moment," Wu said. "We are passing the torch as well as the Olympic dreams."

Wu Jiangxing lights the caldron and  puts an end to the torch relay in Zhengzhou, Henan Province July 25.

In a grand ceremony marking the end of the leg, Zhao Jiancai, mayor of Zhengzhou, said the torch relay in the city would bring the citizens' Olympic enthusiasm to the maximum.