08-06-03

--Intro:
The Olympic torch relay entered Hunan Province and began its first stop in Yueyang this morning in the province. Yuan Longping, a Chinese agriculturalist who is honored as the "Father of Hybrid Rice", was today's first torch bearer.

Yueyang is a famous city with a more than 2,500-year history. In ancient times, the city located at the juncture of Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River, was known as Yuezhou. Many famous Chinese ancient poets left stories there.

The torch relay started at Yueyang Pavilion, a famous structure representative of the local architecture. So let's first check out the pavilion.

--Highlights

1. Yueyang Pavilion
From a distance, Yueyang Pavilion looks like a giant flying bird. The pavilion, which towers above the west gate of Yueyang, is an ancient architectural treasure and one of the three famous pavilions in South China.

Yueyang Pavilion is a three-story, rectangular building constructed entirely from wood. The roof of the pavilion is shaped like the helmets used by ancient knights. No nails or beams were used in the construction of the pavilion, a rare feature in Chinese classical architecture. On the third floor, Mao Zedong's handwriting is preserved on wooden boards.

Built in 716 during the Tang Dynasty, the structure became famous after the publication of Fan Zhongyan's poem, "On Yueyang Pavilion."

In the poem, Fan Zhongyan, a prominent statesman at the time, described the beauty of the structure and expressed his concern for the country and its people. The poem was read at the start of today's torch relay.

Today's torch relay will conclude on the banks of the Miluo River.

2. The Miluo River and the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival
The Miluo River is famous for the story of Qu Yuan, a great patriotic poet in ancient China.

In 278 BC, Qu Yuan witnessed the decline of his homeland, the ancient state of Chu. After his efforts to save Chu failed, he clasped a large stone to his breast and drowned himself in the river.

Every year on the anniversary of his death, the town holds dragon boat races to represent the search for Qu Yuan's body. This year's Dragon Boat Festival will be held on June 8.

During the festival, residents eat zong zi, little packets of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. Zong zi was originally thrown into the river to keep the fish from eating Qu Yuan's flesh.

It is said that upon hearing the news of Qu Yuan's suicide, doctors poured realgar wine into the river to anaesthetize the fish and prevent them from eating his body. Now, drinking realgar wine has become another custom during the Dragon Boat Festival.

The Memorial Temple of Qu Yuan is located on Yusishan Mountain. Inside, poetry ruing the death of Qu Yuan is inscribed on the four stone walls. In the front hall, a huge wooden board is inscribed with Qu Yuan's life story.

--Local cuisine and products :

Representative Xiang dishes
1. Duck "with four ways of eating"
Raising ducks has long been a tradition in Hunan, so many local dishes are duck-based.

2. "Three best things of the cow"
The "three best things of the cow" refer to its stomach, its hoof muscle, and its brain. It is a delicacy at Lihesheng, a famous Islamic restaurant.

3. Yuezhou Fan
The Yuezhou fan is one of three famous fans in China, with over 200 variants. The leading categories are the paper fan, feather fan, bone fan, fragrant wood fan, and the large decorative fan.

--Transportation
There's no airport in Yueyang, you may first fly to Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province.

Plane Ticket
From Beijing to Changsha: Two hours; 1,200 yuan, or 150 US dollars
From Shanghai to Changsha: less than two hours; 890 yuan, or 110 US dollars

After arriving in Changsha, you can travel to Yueyang by train. The trip takes just over an hour and costs around 5 US dollars for a soft seat.

You can also take a direct train from Beijing for around 300 yuan, or 40 US dollars, for a hard sleeper. The trip takes over 13 hours.