XINING, Qinghai Province, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic flame is set to pass through Xining, capital of the northwest Qinghai Province and the last stop of the 3-day Qinghai leg, on Tuesday.
Located on the eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with an average altitude of over 2200 meters (about 7217 feet), Xining is called "Summer Resort Capital of China" for its cool summer. The average temperature in summer is between 17 and 19 degree Celsius.
With a history of more than 2,100 years, the city used to be the most common passing channel of the famous "Silk Road" in ancient time as well as an important hinge between the central plains and the western part of China. Nowadays Xining also serves as a vital transportation hub in northwest China.
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the so-called "Sky Road", starts here. It is the only city on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau which over one million people live in.
The city's thriving ethnic minority community accounts for more than half of Xining's population, which enriches its cultural diversity. 34 ethnic group people live there, including Han, Hui (Chinese Muslims), Tu, Sala and Tibetan.
Ethic groups contributed to the city's religious diversity and tolerance. Islam and Tibetan Buddhism are the most influential religions here.