It offers literally a moving history and political lesson.

The extensive journey is a painstakingly choreographed event to showcase the country's ancient roots, economic awakening and multi-culturalism, as well as the continued mythologising of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The Olympics will serve to further enhance the legitimacy of the CCP. And the torch relay, with its feel-

good patriotic atmosphere, is a valuable opportunity for the 87-year-old party to reinforce its own narrative into the rise of the Chinese nation.

So, the torch's route will take it to as many as 11 stops at so-called 'red cities' - largely impoverished, and almost forgotten, places - where the communists marched en-

route to claiming power and establishing the People's Republic of China in 1949.

There is Zunyi in south-western Guizhou province, where Mao Zedong was first elected as leader of the party in January 1935.

And there is Yan'an, a dusty town sandwiched in the loess hills of western Shaanxi province, used as the base by the Red Army during World War II and the civil war against the Nationalists.

'It is understandable that these cities were chosen,' analyst Shi Yinhong of Beijing's Renmin University told The Straits Times.

'The People's Republic of China rose from these places.'

While these cities are markers of key events in the CCP's ascension, the personalities behind the party's rise are just as integral.

In a party where leaders' words and thoughts are canonised into state ideology - such as Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory - the legacies of the leaders must not only be preserved, but also celebrated.

It is not a coincidence that the torch will pass through the hometowns of all the four paramount leaders whom the CCP has had - namely Shaoshan (Mao's), Guang'an (Deng's), Yangzhou (Mr Jiang Zemin's) and Taizhou (Mr Hu Jintao's).

And to demonstrate the success of the CCP's three-

decade long policy of economic reform, the relay will cover the thriving urban metropolises of Shanghai and Chongqing.

Four of the five original Special Economic Zones (SEZs) also get to see the flame, including the most famous, Shenzhen, which held the relay on Thursday.

Jinquan in Gansu province, where China launched its astronauts into space, also earned a stop.

'This is the modern face of China that we want to show the world,' said Professor Shi.

China also wants to show a lot of other faces, particularly non-Han Chinese ones, as it tries to salvage its multi-cultural reputation following March's Tibet riots.

The torch will travel through minority-populated regions, including Tibet and Xinjiang, with the aim of driving home the message of CCP's inclusiveness.

Like the torch relays of past Games, the run will also visit popular tourist spots of the host country - showing off its rich ancient history and breathtaking sights.

The more popular ones, such as the Terracotta Army in Xi'an and Confucius' home in Qufu, are expected.

But even Jiayuguan, which is at the western end of the Great Wall, is on the route of the flame, as is Miluo River, where patriotic poet Qu Yuan (around 340BC - 278BC) drowned himself.

To honour him, villagers threw dumplings into the river and held dragon boat races - traditions which many Chinese around the world, including Singaporeans, still maintain.

Olympic historian Richard Cashman of the University of Technology in Sydney told The Straits Times that the symbolism of the torch run is a common practice among host countries.

'In 1964, the torch relay travelled to Hiroshima, the city that was devastated by an atomic bomb,' he said.

Just as the Japanese used the Tokyo Games to signal its revival after World War II, the Chinese are also using the event to advertise their arrival as a world superpower.

And they are not waiting until the opening ceremony on Aug 8.

shpeh@sph.com.sg

Where the torch is now

Today, it will continue its journey in Shantou, the last stopover in Guangdong, before moving to Fujian province.