The Olympic torch whisked along the Great Wall for the first time yesterday when torchbearers ran across the six-century-old Jiayu Pass at the western end of the 5,000-km wall.

The Great Wall was the last part of the relay in Jiayuguan, a nearby city and the second stop of the three-day, three-city relay in Northwestern Gansu province.

Although the pass was built as early as 1372, Jiayuguan materialized just 50 years ago as a result of the "Great Leap Forward" - a 1958-60 initiative to utilize China's vast population to rapidly transform the country into a modern, industrialized society.

In 1958 the Jiuquan Steel and Iron Group was built on the small oasis beside the Jiayu Pass and staffed by tens of thousands of workers and engineers sent from Anshan in Liaoning province, Wuhan in Hubei province and in Shanghai.

"Jiayuguan is a typical city of migrants," said Zhang Shengwu, an engineer who works for the steelmaker.

"Its people are open minded and they are quick to learn new things, but they would not mingle with residents of cities nearby."

The engineer attended the launch ceremony of the torch relay with thousands of his colleagues.

They watched Yu Haiyan, chairman of the company's board, run as Jiayuguan's first torchbearer.

"It is my honor and also the honor of my group today. My group will go on contributing to the economic development, the urban construction and every other aspect of Jiayuguan in the future," said Yu before his leg on the bank of East Lake in the city's downtown area.

The steelmaker is the cornerstone of the city's economy. More than half of about 200,000 residents or their family members are employees.