Olympic torch flies to oasis city

URUMQI: The Olympic flame was flown across the Taklimakan Desert to Kashgar yesterday after a successful relay in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang autonomous region.

The relay in Kashgar, Xinjiang, an oasis city on the Silk Road, will be held today. Tomorrow, the torch will pass through Shihezi, an industrial city and Changji, the seat of the Changji Hui autonomous prefecture.

In Urumqi yesterday, Abuduxiku Mijiti the Uygur "boxing champion", led off the relay in which 208 people took part. The 37-year-old from the Yili Hazak autonomous prefecture, Xinjiang, won more than 10 national boxing contests.