Full coverage: Beijing welcomes the Olympic flame

The plane carrying the Beijing Olympic flame arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport on March 31, 2008. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Relive: Beijing welcomes the Olympic flame

Date/Time: 9:00 a.m., Monday, March 31, 2008

Venue: Beijing

The official Beijing Olympic Torch Relay delegation led by BOCOG President Liu Qi arrives at Capital International Airport via a special Olympic-chartered Air China plane called "Journey of Harmony".

The door the chartered plane opens.

Crowds cheer the arrival of the Olympic plane.

Liu Qi disembarks, holding the safety lantern that contains the Olympic flame.

Liu Qi waves to the crowd.

Liu Qi disembarks with the Olympic Flame safety lantern and walks out from the flight area waving to the crowd.

Zhou Yongkang (L) and Liu Qi raise the safety lantern together.

Flame escorts carry the lantern across the tarmac.

The Flame is escorted to the vehicle.

The flame is escorted to a vehicle decorated with red and yellow, which will transport the flame to Tian'anmen Square for a grand welcoming ceremony.

The flame escort motorcade proceeds to Tian'anmen Square.

The flame escort motorcade now proceeds to Tian'anmen Square.

Tian'anmen Square

Tian'anmen Square is decorated for the Olympic torch-welcoming ceremony that is to be held Monday morning, March 31, 2008. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Dancers perform as crowds await the flame's arrival.

Crowds enjoy performances in Tian'anmen Square as they await the arrival of the Olympic flame.

A podium has been set up in the center of Tian'anmen Square, an iconic site that serves as the center of Chinese culture and politics.