Yesterday, Chris (left) and Morgan (right) arrived at Chen Yi Square in Shanghai’s Bund.
To become journalists, two American youths, Morgan and Chris, embarked on a 24,000-kilometer journey. They set off from Paris last March, cycling through Europe, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, passing through a total of 23 countries, and yesterday, they reached their final destination: Shanghai, China.
Morgan graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Chicago. Next Monday, he will turn 24, and his life has already been quite remarkable: at the age of 9, he flew alone to Hawaii; from the age of 12, he spent four years in Spain; and starting at 15, he worked as a crew member on four ships, where he was the only non-Filipino.
Chris graduated with a degree in media studies from UCLA and wants to become a journalist. He readily joined the bike ride after hearing the proposal from his high school friend Morgan.
Morgan’s friend Dawei revealed that Chris and Morgan mostly stayed with hosts through the couchsurfing network during their ride, with the rest of the nights spent camping or in hostels.
Entering China from Kashgar in Xinjiang, and passing through Gansu, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Zhejiang, yesterday around 6 p.m., Morgan and Chris arrived at Chen Yi Square in Shanghai’s Bund, with Chris pedaling ahead and crossing the finish line first.
Three days ago, Chris and Morgan’s father flew from Los Angeles, USA, to Shanghai to join them on the ride and accompany them for the final 25 kilometers.
Why did they choose Shanghai as the final stop? Chris and Morgan said they considered cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, but ultimately chose Shanghai. They had never been to China before.
Asked about their reason for “hitting the road,” Morgan said he wanted to become a journalist. Along the way, they focused on nonprofit organizations in the regions they passed through, uncovering local stories in every city they visited. Their related articles have been published in Forbes, The Atlantic, and Global Viewpoint, among other publications and websites. Chris believes that some experiences are irreplaceable—you have to discover yourself.