YANGZHOU, Jiangsu: Beautiful landscapes and pretty people featured in Monday's Olympic torch relay in the historic cities of Taizhou and Yangzhou, where several legends of love and heroism were born in ancient times.

One of the most attractive figures among the 208 torchbearers yesterday was a young woman in Yangzhou, who is famously known as "Bus Beauty" in the cyber world.

Pu Juan, who sells tickets on the city's bus No 4, has been popular among netizens ever since her pictures were published online by an anonymous photographer in 2006.

Despite winning instant fame she declined to join the entertainment world, opting to continue work on the bus.

But the bus No 4 is often crowded because many visitors to Yangzhou take the route just for the chance to watch her, according to local media.

"I couldn't believe it when I learned that I had been chosen to be a torchbearer," the humble Pu said. "In future my best way to contribute to the Olympics will be to do well in my job," she said.

Pu's relay leg was across the downtown Bridge of the Moon.

Yesterday's relay passed through Taizhou in the morning and in Yangzhou in the afternoon. Taizhou, which is less famous, is in fact one of China's oldest cities.

It was called "Haiyang" in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) before the name "Taizhou" - peaceful country and lucky citizens - was adopted during the Southern Tang Dynasty (AD 937-975).

The relay in Taizhou began on the campus of the 106-year-old Taizhou Middle School, still one of China's best high schools.

The torch passed the ancient compound where the family of 20th-century Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang has lived for several centuries.

In Yangzhou the Olympic flame started at the King's Temple, which local residents first built in the 5th century BC in honor of Fu Chai, Wu State monarch who died in a battle with the neighboring state of Yue.

He was loved by his people because he built a canal for them, but he is best known across the country for his obsession with Xi Shi, one of the most beautiful women in China's history who led to his downfall.

Today the relay will visit Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, which has served as China's capital several times.