As the Olympic torch relay continues on the Chinese mainland, common people in the country have launched a virtual edition of the relay online. It has attracted some 30 million netizens.

People can sign up to be "online torchbearers" and have a symbolic torch icon added to their QQ, a Chinese instant messaging software.

Olympic supporter Xiao Yan is thrilled by the software.

"It would be hard for common people to become torchbearers, But now we can. I think it's equally meaningful to be an online torchbearer."

Similar torch relay-related activities are also being held in other online forums.