​Foreign Professor Cycles from Europe to Shanghai in 156 Days!

Foreign Professor Cycles from Europe to Shanghai in 156 Days!

156 days,

10,756 kilometers,

18 countries,

500+ historical landmarks...

Recently, Professor Ole Bouman from the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University completed his remarkable cycling journey from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Shanghai, China. His "Journey to the East" culminated at Tongji University, marking an extraordinary achievement.

In the context of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, on October 19, 2023, Ole Bouman announced his ambitious "Journey to the East" on social media, planning to cycle from Amsterdam to his workplace at Tongji University. From winter to summer, he embarked on this solo journey to document local customs, legendary architectural sites, and natural landscapes along the way.

"Architecture is a metaphor for human endeavor, aimed at creating better and more meaningful places in this world, including gardens, buildings, and cities. This is precisely what we urgently need now. From Amsterdam to Tongji University, spanning the vast Eurasian continent, architecture is the link connecting the start and end of this journey. I hope to share the vibrant civilization and the inner significance and charm of traveling with everyone," said Ole Bouman.

Starting in early February 2024, he released nearly 30 bilingual "Journey to the East" posts on social media. During the 156-day journey, Ole Bouman cycled with an 18-kilogram bike, carrying 45 kilograms of luggage. He experienced three flat tires, crossed around 300 rivers and streams, climbed over 100 mountains, traversed 3 deserts, and navigated through 16 language regions, capturing 1,000 special moments.

In the spring semester of 2024, Ole Bouman incorporated this "Journey to the East" into his classroom teachings. Along with his team, he developed a series of compact and in-depth course units combining online and offline teaching methods. He shared and interpreted the insights gained from his journey with Tongji students, guiding them to explore the values architecture holds as a critical medium in humanity's pursuit of a more sustainable and harmonious way of life. The course also focused on the multifaceted aspects of East-West relations, creating a space for students to "see" and "express."

Currently, the "Journey to the East" exhibition, co-curated by Ole Bouman and his students, is being held at the Biyun Art Museum in Pudong.

Source & Pic: 上观新闻, 同济大学

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