The torch for the upcoming Incheon Asian Games 2014 arrived in Weihai, China, on August 12, as it travels from India as part of the flame's voyage across the Asian continent to the Korean port city ahead of the XVII Asiad.

The flame for this year's Asian Games was lit in New Delhi, the birthplace of the continent's prime sporting event, on August 9 before being sent to the Korean host city of Incheon via Weihai earlier this week.

The torch-lighting event in India marked the first time that the symbolic flame was lit at the venue of the first Asiad in 1951. In the past, each country has lit its own flame. This practice was changed this year, however, to emphasize the history and continuity of the games.

About 500 officials and citizens from Korea and China attended Tuesday's ceremony in the eastern Chinese city of Weihai, across the Yellow Sea from the Korean Peninsula.

Lu Mingyu, a 40-year-old Weihei resident, was the first of the relay runners. The torch was sent to Incheon on August 13 by ferry.

Also, on August 12 in Incheon another torch was lit to meet with the other arriving flame on August 13 for a torch relay across Korea. The flame has been making its way around the nation before arriving back in Incheon for the opening ceremony.

The 17th Asiad will run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, with some 13,000 athletes and officials participating in 36 sports.