SHAOXING, East China, May 16(Xin Hua)－The Olympic torch relay(火炬接力)will start in Shaoxing on Saturday, which is known as one ancient Chinese culture city with a history of over 4,000 years．

　　Shaoxing is also the hometown to many outstanding persons such as Cai Yuanpei, Lu Xun and Zhou Enlai．Chairman Mao Zedong once wrote a poem, praising Shaoxing as the“home of famous names”．

　　The relay, planned to kick off at 15∶40 Saturday, will set out from Da Yu Ling．It is the resting place of Da Yu, an ancient hero who succeeded in dealing with the great flood(洪水)．

　　Along the route, the torch will also pass by Da Tong School, Ying En Gate, the Chinese Yellow Wine Town and Native residence(故居)of Mr Lu Xun．According to the plan, the relay will end at about 18∶40．

　　“You can know the history of Shaoxing when you walk along the route,”said Shan Guoquan, the person who planned the route．

　　According to Shan, Da Tong School was the earliest school in China that specialized(专门从事)in sports teaching and training．It was built from a place which used to be an exam center in ancient times．

　　Ying En Gate, Shaoxing's ancient water city gate, was built in 1626．It was in the busiest and richest area 100 years ago．

　　The Chinese Yellow Wine Town told us the cultures of the popular drink among the people in Shaoxing for centuries．

　　Native residence of Mr Lu Xun is built to remember Lu Xun, a great writer and thinker in China．

　　“Just as a time tunnel(隧道), the Olympic torch relay route tells us the history of Shaoxing,”said Shan．

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