The Tour of Shanghai New Cities 2025 is in full swing, but the competition of speed and passion extends beyond the race tracks! Last night (September 6), during a break while transitioning between stages, international cyclists visited the Fengxian Museum for the Exhibition of Aesthetic Life in the Tang Dynasty". The precious and diverse Tang Dynasty artifacts left these "knights of speed" from around the world in awe! The combination of sports and culture created a unique spark.

This year's cycling race, upgraded to the UCI 2.2 level, attracted 20 top teams from 10 countries and regions. After the intense second stage, cyclists and staff took advantage of their break to visit the Fengxian Museum. The 323 precious artifacts, including lifelike figurines, uniquely shaped wine vessels, and gorgeous gold and silverware, instantly transported them to the prosperous world of Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty. The daily life, clothing, food, housing, and aesthetic tastes of the Tang people were vividly presented before their eyes with professional explanations.

The cyclists' reactions were enthusiastic. Arno Goossens, a staff member of Belgium's Wagner Bazin WB team, said, "Seeing the life of ancient China here, their feelings and experiences, is really amazing. It's great to see how they improved their living standards. This visit is fantastic, and we really enjoyed it!" Max Campbell, a cyclist from Australia's CCACHE X BODYWRAP team, exclaimed, "Everything has been amazing so far! In just 20 minutes, I've learned so much that I didn't know before, like the details of the Tang Dynasty. This opportunity is so rare!" Jack Dohler, a teammate of Max, added excitedly, "This place is so cool! I love this exhibition so much. Those artifacts left a deep impression on me. It's really eye-opening!"

This brief museum visit was not just an appreciation of historical artifacts but more like a dialogue across time with the people of the Tang Dynasty. As the wheels of bicycles "overlap" with the tracks of ancient carriages in Fengxian New City, it showcases the common pursuit and aspiration for the aesthetics of life shared by Eastern and Western cultures. We look forward to more wonderful stories of the integration of sports and culture in Fengxian in the future.