Thousands of local residents witnessed the opening ceremony in which hundreds of pigeons were released.

Liu Wenjie, a member in China's peace-keeping police squad in Haiti, ran a leg in Friday's relay. He was awarded a "Peace Medal" by UN.

"I am a peace keeper in Haiti and now being a torch bearer, I am a peace promoter as the Olympic spirit represents peace," said Liu.

"World peace is the strongest power for progress. I hope the Olympic flame can light the world and the relay can spread the message of peace around China and the world," he added.

The relay ended at 3:10 p.m. local time. The celebration activity took place in the starting site, the Huizhou Stadium. Chinese drum beating, lion and drag dancing, and Olympic style songs were staged.

Huizhou is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province, China. Part of the Pearl River Delta, Huizhou borders the provincial capital of Guangzhou to the west, Shaoguan to the north, Heyuan to the northeast, Shanwei to the east, Shenzhen and Dongguan to the southwest, and looks out to the South China Sea to the south.

Huizhou gradually gained benefit from the Chinese economic reform in the late 1980s. The blossom of real estate market attracted capital investment from Hong Kong and Taiwan, together with the establishment of factories and plants by these investment.

In the provincial economic development strategy, Huizhou is regarded as a site for a world-class petrochemical industry, as well as the hub for solidifying information technology, and expanding exports and trades.

The relay is to continue its journey of harmony in Shantou, the last stopover in Guangdong before moving to Fujian Province on Saturday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2008)