Liu Yan， winner at the 2008 National Grand Prix Figure Skating， ran the first leg of the relay.

　　Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

　　QIQIHAR， Northeast China， July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic torch kicked off its relay in Qiqihar， the second largest city in China's northeastern Heilongjiang Province， at 8:10 on Sunday morning.

　　Liu Yan， winner at the 2008 National Grand Prix Figure Skating， ran the first leg of the relay， starting from the Municipal Public Square in Qiqihar， which is well-known for red-crowned cranes.