By Hu Ruoyu

    XINING, Qinghai Province, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Hopes and dreams, brightness and happiness, friendship and peace.

    While the Olympic flame passed through China's largest lake Qinghai Lake on the International Olympic Day, people near and far have also been deeply moved and encouraged.

    The Olympic torch was relayed along the Qinghai Lake on Monday, the second stop of its Qinghai leg in "Journey of Harmony".

    Compared with the flame's travel in many big cities, its arrival in the pastoral Qinghai Lake is a special event for local Tibetans and other ethnic residents. Many of them came to the lakeside one or two days ago, waiting for the flame.

    "Today, the sacred flame visits our sacred lake. All members of my family come here. We've been looking forward to this day for a long time," said Raiqunghu, a Tibetan herd who lived in neighboring village.

    Raiqunghu's friend Wanma Cedain also came here early in the morning with his wife. "I grew up here and can see the lake everyday, but today it is especially beautiful," said he.

    "I have a dream that I want to present the torchbearer a white had a to show my best wishes for the Beijing Olympics," said he.

    He realized this dream when the 139th torchbearer Liu Yongquan accepted the had a and drank out the barley wine.

    The torchbearers also have theirs dreams come true. "I realized my 24-year-long dream," said Yang Yanli, carry the torch while riding a small-wheel bicycle.

    As a cycling enthusiast, Yang began organizing grassroots cycling games with her father to promote cycling in China when she saw no Chinese cyclists in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

    Yang dreams to visit all places where host major cycling games. So it was her day to pass the flame along the lake. The annual Tour de Qinghai Lake is held here.

    "I'm very excited and feel glorious to pass the torch 'Lucky Cloud' along the Qinghai Lake," said she, "I'll be a volunteer in Beijing one month later. I hope the Chinese cyclists do a good job in the Games."

    Foreign torchbearers also enjoyed passing Flame on the Olympic Day. "Being part of the Olympics and the Olympic Spirits, I'm extremely proud and that's been a best, biggest day in my life," said Christopher Thomas, a manager from Intel.

    "I've big smile on my face. I've my friends to see me, everyone to see me. It's great to be part of the Olympic Spirits," said he.

    Besides happiness, people also see courage from the flame to overcome difficulties and create a bright future, especially after the catastrophic Wenchuan quake in southwest Sichuan.

    "We pass the flame, share the enthusiasm and ideal for harmony here. Moreover, we also pass the ages-old friendship between Han and Tibetan people and show our confidence and courage to help the quake-affected people rebuild home," said torchbearer Wang Xiaoping.

    Wang, a native of Xining, carried the torch in the right hand while showing a yellow silk belt worn in the left wrist.

    "I want to show our love and care to the quake-stricken people," said he. "When we celebrate the Olympics, we won't forget them but to give them support and strength."

    Before the relay began, people in the starting ceremony paid a one-minute silent tribute, mourning 69,000 lives lost in the May 12 quake.

    "I'm very proud and honored to be the first torchbearer, but the honor not belongs to myself but to all medical workers," said Dagar, an ethnic Mongolian doctor and quake hero who had led a medical aid team to Sichuan and saved over 1180 wounded in quake.

    "I just came back from Sichuan. The quake relief there deeply impressed me and I feel the greatness of our nation, the fraternity from all the people at home and abroad," said he.

    Decejia, the last torchbearer, was more emotional after he lightened the community cauldron in the closing ceremony.

    "After the Wenchuan quake, our villagers first thought of donating money and goods to the quake-affected people," said the 58-year-old Tibetan village official.

    While the torch relay ended in the noon, domestic and foreign domestic donations had reached 52.48 billion yuan in cash and goods, according to the latest statistics.