Connecting Three Universities: A 15,000-Kilometre Cycling Journey
The Journey
Luke Rimmer is an exchange student from the University of Liverpool at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. On 21 July 2026, he set off from Suzhou on a 15,000-kilometre cycling journey across 15 countries, expected to take around 150 days.
Retracing the ancient Silk Road westward, Luke plans to travel via Xi’an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi province before arriving at the University of Liverpool in time for his graduation ceremony in December.
The journey reflects his determination to challenge himself while experiencing and sharing the landscapes, kindness, and realities of the world along the way.
Timeline
This section will be updated as Luke’s journey progresses.
July 2026
21 July: Departed from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, China.
August 2026
4 August: Arrived in Xi’an, China.
6 August: Reached Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU).
30 August: Arrived in Lanzhou, China.
September–November 2026
Central Asia
Plans to cross Central Asia through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Europe
Plans to fly across the Caspian Sea into Europe, passing through Turkey, Croatia, Italy, and France, before crossing the English Channel to reach the UK and continuing to Liverpool.
Luke on the Road
30 August 2026, at the XJTLU Opening Ceremony, Luke joined via a livestream video from Lanzhou to send his best wishes to the new students.
6 August 2026 · Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
July 2026 · Anhui and Henan, China
July 2026 · Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
