The Olympic flame has concluded its tour of Golmud city in Southwest China's Qinghai Province. Golmud is known as China's "salt lake city."

The ceremony began with a one-minute silence to remember the victims of the catastrophic Sichuan earthquake, which claimed more than 69,000 lives.

Cega, a Tibetan man known as the "Tibetan antelope guard," was the first torchbearer. Cega has spent more than 10 years fighting poachers at the nearby Hol Xil Nature Reserve.

"The journey is too short for me. I'm so excited. I love this torch. I love our country. I wish the Beijing Olympics perfect games."

Liu Shengchun, a private entrepreneur, was the second torchbearer. His company donated Kunlun Jade worth more than 5 million U.S. dollars to the Beijing Olympic organizers for the Olympic medals.

A total of 171 torchbearers ran 7.5 kilometers in Glomud, the rising industry city known as the "Gate of Tibet." It is an important junction along the Qinghai-Tibet railway and highway.