Riding the Silk Road, Suzhou to Liverpool, with a stop at XJTU
On 21 July, Luke Rimmer, an exchange student from the University of Liverpool, set off on an ambitious journey from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou: a roughly 15,000-kilometre bike ride along the ancient Silk Road, through 15 countries, ultimately arriving in Liverpool, UK.
On 6 August, Rimmer reached Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU). He was welcomed by Dr Haoqing Zhang and Dr Minli You from the School of Life Science and Technology, along with international students, who gave him a tour of the campus. Rimmer then stopped to take photos at the university gate and at the XJTLU Pavilion, among other spots.
Luke Rimmer (right) at XJTU’s gate
The pavilion was donated to XJTU this past April by XJTLU to celebrate XJTU’s 130th anniversary. The stone benches inside the pavilion are engraved with the emblems of all three universities – XJTU, the University of Liverpool, and XJTLU – symbolising the three institutions’ shared commitment to nurturing talent together.
From left to right: Dr Haoqing Zhang, Luke Rimmer and Dr Minli You at the XJTLU Pavilion
Xi’an marks the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, and Rimmer’s route happens to link all three universities along the way. This campus visit was more than just a rest stop along the way – it was a vivid symbol of the bond between the three universities.
Luke Rimmer (centre) with international students at XJTU
Since setting out from Suzhou, Rimmer has passed through Wuxi, Changzhou, Yangzhou, Shangqiu, and Kaifeng, among other cities. Along the way, XJTLU students, staff, alumni, and online followers have left comments on social media, saying they recognised him en route and cheering him on.
Comments from XJTLU’s Douyin account
A comment from XJTLU’s Bilibili account
Due to knee discomfort during the ride, Rimmer rested in Luoyang, Henan province, before taking a train to Xi’an. He was candid about the challenge on social media: “This is going to be both a physical and mental test – it’ll take real willpower and perseverance to get through.”
Rimmer said that after resting up and doing some maintenance on his bike, he hopes to get back on the road soon.
Luke Rimmer (left) taking a photo with a fellow passenger on the train
Looking ahead, Rimmer plans to continue from Xi’an along the Silk Road through Qinghai province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, exiting China into Kazakhstan via the Khorgos border crossing.
From there, he’ll cross Central Asia through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, then fly across the Caspian Sea into Europe, passing through Turkey, Croatia, Italy, and France, before finally crossing the English Channel to reach the UK.
By Xinmin Han and Qiuchen Hu
Edited by Patricia Pieterse
Photos courtesy of Luke Rimmer
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