Bao Fang, a student at Lanzhou University
In January 2011, Bao Fang, a student at Lanzhou University, went to Sweden to study at the School of Business at Halmstad University as part of an exchange program. Over the course of more than a year, he used his holidays and spare time to travel solo through 27 European countries and 76 cities. During his travels, he created a page on Renren (a Chinese social network) called “How Many Beautiful Sceneries Exist in the World,” which has since been visited by nearly 90,000 people.
Reporter: How did you have so much time to travel? Does this have something to do with the Swedish academic schedule?
Bao Fang: I did most of my traveling during the summer break. The Swedish university summer vacation usually lasts from the end of May to early September each year. Additionally, the Swedish academic system is quite flexible—most classes are concentrated over just two or three days a week, leaving students plenty of free time to arrange as they wish.
The courses at the business school where I studied were almost all based on practical work, group discussions, and case studies. The library at Halmstad University is an important hub for learning and interaction. Many case discussions take place in specialized meeting rooms there. During final exams, Swedish students also camp out in the library to study.
The Halmstad University library might only be about one-fifth the size of the Lanzhou University library, but it’s fully equipped. Free amenities include coffee machines, computer corners, fax machines, and photocopiers. Library staff are always stationed in visible areas to ensure help is readily available—this contributes to the efficiency of Swedish students' studies.
Also, although Swedish students don’t have many classes, whenever they have time, they seek out conversations with CEOs and other business elites. They also often attend business networking events, mostly to build connections.
Reporter: It’s not so easy for Chinese college students to talk directly with company executives. Why do Swedish students have so many opportunities to chat with business elites?
Bao Fang: Many senior executives in Swedish companies are happy to accept invitations from students for talks. They’re very approachable—in general, professors at every business school have contact information for many top executives, and they often communicate with business leaders in advance. So, the key connection is usually through the university professors.
Reporter: Sweden has become one of the countries with the highest number of outbound travelers in the world. Do young Swedes travel a lot?
Bao Fang: I feel that young Swedes are among the main forces of tourism. They especially love camping trips, as it’s a great way to connect with nature and build friendships. Many Swedes post online looking for travel buddies to go camping with. I often see students carrying backpacks with capacities of 50–60 liters walking around campus. They frequently use weekends to go camping in nearby mountains or grasslands in other countries.
Reporter: I heard you traveled to many countries but didn’t spend much money. How did you manage that?
Bao Fang: My style of “budget travel” was somewhat influenced by Swedish students. Though they have money, they try to save—and they don’t prioritize comfort when traveling. Instead, they prefer experiencing the journey itself. When I traveled in Switzerland, I struggled to climb the Jungfrau, which is over 4,000 meters above sea level, and took tons of photos. But a foreigner next to me simply looked quietly through binoculars. Out of curiosity, I asked if he felt he’d missed out by not taking pictures. He replied, “What the trip gives me is the most real thing—something technology can’t replicate. I never take photos.”
To save money, I often took overnight trains instead of staying in hotels. Travel between European countries is convenient—I sometimes realized we had crossed a border only because the train announcer mentioned it, with no border checks or even signs. So, it’s best to buy a rail pass when traveling in Europe. A rail pass is a time-limited ticket that’s affordable and lets you ride most major European train lines within a set timeframe. Moreover, most train stations are located right in the heart of the city or in the most distinctive areas.
One experience left a deep impression on me: while traveling in Switzerland, our train broke down and stopped about 200 meters away from the station. The crew made multiple announcements explaining the situation and reassuring passengers. Although we were very close to the station, for safety reasons, the conductor didn’t allow anyone to leave the train. Once the issue was resolved, the conductor even smilingly handed each passenger an apology letter and a 10-Swiss-franc compensation.
Reporter: What do the young Swedes you met think of China?
Bao Fang: Overall, they still don’t know much about China. I remember once in the library, a few Swedish classmates stopped me. They had a camera pointed at me and said they were doing research on the current status of exchange students. They asked many questions about China. I realized they didn’t even know basic facts—like the fact that China is the world’s most populous country. Most Swedish students I encountered only knew of three Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.