Olympic torch relay to resume on Thursday

Shanghai: The Olympic torch resumes its journey through China on Thursday after a three-day period of national mourning for victims of the earthquake that killed more than 40,000 and left millions more homeless.

The torch will pass through the seaport city of Ningbo, across the Hangzhou Bay bridge to Jiaxing before being transported to the country's commercial centre of Shanghai late on Thursday.

The torch's journey through China has so far been peaceful, a stark contrast from the protest-plagued global relay.

China suspended the relay for three days in the wake of the devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake that has left over 40,000 people dead.

Some legs of the run were shortened and donations for victims have been collected along the way.

The torch will remain in Shanghai on Friday and Saturday, before travelling on to neighboring Jiangsu province.

The torch returns to Beijing on August 6, two days before the opening ceremonies.