GOLMUD, Qinghai  -- The Olympic torch relay is to kick off in Golmud, China's salt lake city in Qinghai Province, on Sunday.

The Olympic flame arrived in the city by flight on Saturday afternoon after a joyful and peaceful journey in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region.

A total of 171 torchbearers will participate in the torch relay, running a distance of 7.5 kilometers. Cega, the reknown "Tibetan Antelope Guard", is chosen as the first torchbearer both in Golmud and in Qinghai.

Golumd, or Geermu in Chinese, means "a place where rivers are confluent" in Mongolian. It is a young industrial city built on central-south of the resourceful Qaidam Basin. Recycling economy regarding mineral salts like alkali is booming here.

Golmud is also an important conjunction of Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Highway. It is called "Gate of Tibet".