Beijing torch climbs the Great Wall

The Olympic flame climbed the Great Wall on Thursday, an ascent shrouded in morning mist and laden with symbolism as it neared the end of a tortuous route around the world a day before the Games begin.

What was meant as a tour to showcase China's unity and pride ahead of the Olympics turned into a lightning rod for protests, mostly over China's crackdown on unrest in Tibet -- the latest in Beijing itself on Wednesday morning.

The small protest near the main Olympic stadium was overshadowed by the patriotic throngs drawn to the relay in the Chinese capital, a scene repeated at the Great Wall, which was lined with volunteers in yellow uniforms waving red fans as far as the eye could see.

The crowd was showered with confetti as the torch was lit against the backdrop of the winding wall and craggy mountains just outside Beijing.

"There have been problems with the torch but now is the time for the party," said Weng Chengyu, a 28-year-old student. "You see all this? This shows how much the Chinese love the Olympics."

The torch was paraded along the ramparts of the Great Wall, which are wide enough for five horses.

The model of a giant dragon was crouched on one of the watchtowers and, with the mountains behind, it looked like the backdrop for an ancient Chinese painting.

Patriotic music blared out from loud speakers and drums and cymbals thundered out a pounding beat.

A flock of doves was released and the birds swept out across the countryside and into the mist.

"We have travelled to so many cities from Olympia to the Great Wall, we have cried so many times, it is very emotional, especially when you see the reaction of the Chinese crowds," said Xiaohong Lu, who accompanied the torch relay around the world.

The relay through Beijing marks the end of the torch's journey across five continents and every corner of China before the cauldron is lit Friday at the Games' opening ceremony.

The demonstrations around the world provoked retaliatory rallies by patriotic Chinese at home and abroad and sparked a display of nationalism that saw foreign retailers and media outlets under fire on China's blogs and in the streets. That upswell in patriotism was evident on Wednesday, when the torch arrived in Beijing, as people cheering "Go Olympics!" and "Go China" stood dozens deep along the torch route, many waving red national flags.

Huge crowds are once again expected to turn out on Thursday as the flame is paraded through Beijing suburbs, some of the areas that have been hit hardest by traffic restrictions and factory closures meant to clean up the capital's smoggy air before the Games.

The torch will close the day back in downtown Beijing at Ditan, or the Temple of Earth, another site from China's imperial past.