The project originated during the university’s 20th-anniversary celebrations in May. After leading a local cycling event for staff, Rimmer committed to the ambitious transcontinental trek, eventually receiving a bicycle from Executive President Professor Youmin Xi during a formal send-off ceremony on July 8. Rimmer describes the journey as a personal pursuit of challenges that push the boundaries of what is possible.
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A 15,000-Kilometre Solo Ride from Suzhou to Liverpool
Luke Rimmer, an exchange student at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, departed Suzhou on July 21, 2026, on a bicycle. He intends to traverse 15 countries and 15,000 kilometres over the next 150 days, retracing the ancient Silk Road to reach his home institution in the UK in time for December graduation.
He travels equipped with essential repair tools, a solar panel for off-grid power, and a university-issued flag designed to collect signatures across his route. The expedition symbolically connects XJTLU’s founding institutions—Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool. This journey follows a significant milestone for the Suzhou campus, which was granted the Freedom of the City by Liverpool City Council earlier in April 2026.
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