Professor Ole Bouman's journey covered 18 countries over 156 days. He rode a 18-kilo bicycle carrying 45 kilograms of luggage, experienced 3 tire punctures, crossed approximately 300 rivers and creeks, climbed over 100 mountain ranges, traversed 3 deserts, and encountered 3 seasons. He used 8 currencies, crossed 16 language zones, visited 500 historical landmarks from Karl Marx's homeland to Laozi's birthplace, organized 5 public events, traversed 1 war zone, witnessed 100 war memorials, and documented 1000 moments of peace.

Against the backdrop of the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, this journey facilitated a cultural dialogue between East and West along the Silk Road from the perspective of cycling. Using his bicycle as a pen, Bouman crossed continents, painting a narrative of peace and integration.

The Journey to the  is not only a societal dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures but also a unique design course. As a newly introduced sub-course within the Design Studio (IV) series for the Spring Semester of 2024, Journey to the East integrates both online and offline teaching methods, deconstructing the journey into a series of compact yet profound course units. Professor Ole Bouman shares and interprets profound insights and philosophical reflections captured during the journey with students every week, guiding them to delve deep into architecture as a pivotal medium for humanity's pursuit of a more sustainable and harmonious coexistence. This exploration encompasses the knowledge systems and value orientations it carries.

Students from Tongji University closely follow Professor Ole Bouman's footsteps, experiencing the cultural, historical, and architectural changes and amalgamations along the cycling route. They discuss and express their understanding of Eastern and Western cultures, share recommendations for cycling journeys, and collaboratively complete a book titled The East Journey, culminating in planning and executing an exhibition.

This specialized course aims to use the lens of architectural theory knowledge to focus on the multidimensional aspects of East-West relations. It provides students with a unique perspective to observe, think, and express their exploration and understanding of world cultures, reflections on history, efforts towards sustainable connections, and responses to contemporary challenges. The course encourages active participation, in-depth discussions, and multidimensional interactions among students, aiming to cultivate their critical thinking and cross-cultural communication abilities. This foundation is intended to prepare students for future endeavors in architectural design, exhibition design, cultural research, and broader social practices.

The Journey to the East exhibition co curated by Professor Ole Bouman and students from CAUP has been launched on July 13th at the Being Art Museum in Pudong. Welcome to the exhibition.