Now that the sun is shining brightly again amid spring weather, the Soong Ching Ling Memorial Residence in Shanghai is inviting cycling enthusiasts to explore her circle of friends by reading about city architecture on urban cycling routes.

The launch ceremony for the event was held on Thursday.

Soong Ching Ling is the daughter of Shanghai. She was born to a Christian missionary father and an intellectual mother who was a descendant of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and scientist Xu Guangqi (1562-1633).

She started to receive an international education at McTyeire School, now Shanghai No. 3 Girls' High School, at the age of 9. She was sent abroad along with her younger sister Soong May-ling at the age of 14 as the first batch of government-financed girl students.

Her residence at 1843 Huaihai Rd M., where "Chasing the Light: Explore Soong Ching Ling's Circle of Friends" urban cycling event was launched on Thursday, is a witness to her achievements for the country and its people. It boasts an authentic recording of the details of her personal life, with signature items such as an exhibition hall displaying "Treasures Telling the Past" exhibition with more than 200 precious cultural relics, a courtyard with dozens of century-old camphor trees and a dove house.

"The event is a response to the national fitness initiative," said Ni Tianle, manager of the Bank of Jiangsu Shanghai Branch, a co-organizer.

After a grassland concert presented by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra musicians, the first team of riders, including four Instagram and Xiaohongshu foreigner vloggers – Ole Wangensteen Eidskrem from Norway, Russian duo Ilina Ekaterina and Artem Kapnin, and Federico Sabatini of Italy – departed from the residence amid a spring vibe and appealing scenes.

They passed through Huang Xing's Former Residence at 393 Wukang Rd, Ba Jin's Former Residence at 113 Wukang Rd, the Former Residence of Yen Fu-ching at No.4 Lane, 40 Wukang Rd, the Former Residence of Ke Ling at 147 Fuxing Rd W., the Old Residence of the Granich Couple at 17 Xinle Rd, and finally arrived at Xiangyang Hotel for some rest.

The celebrities were acquaintances or friends of Soong during her lifetime.

Huang Xing (1874-1916), a pioneer of the 1911 Revolution, resided at 393 Wukang Rd from 1914 to 1916 till his death. When Sun Yat-sen and his wife Soong arrived in Shanghai from Japan in May 1916, they lived in a rented house nearby.

The literary giant Ba Jin (1904-2005) moved to 113 Wukang Rd in September 1955 and lived half of his life there. He met Soong at the funeral of another Chinese writer Lu Xun (1881-1936). Later as an executive committee member of the China Welfare Institute founded by Soong, he donated frequently to the institute.

Dr Yen Fu-ching (1882-1970) resided at No.4 Lane, 40 Wukang Rd from 1943 to 1950. He and Soong were cousins and supported each other during war times against foreign aggression such as rescuing wounded soldiers.

Playwright, writer and critic Ke Ling (1909-2000) and his wife lived in Room 203 inside 147 Fuxing Road W. for almost half a century. An album from Soong's memorial residence and preserved among the collection for nearly 80 years bears a signature from Ke.

Grace Granich and Max Granich were American Communist Party members arrived in China for support in the 1930s and edited the English journal "The Voice of China."

"It is my first time to know Madame Soong Ching Ling," said Kapnin, who hails from Russia and is a master's student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. "Now I know more about the history of the lady. It's nice that organizers introduce such an interesting historic phenomenon to us."

"It's a beautiful time for visiting Shanghai now. Spring is coming and so warm weather. And if you look around you see very good and wonderful landscapes," said Russian influencer Ekaterina.

Zhong Tianshi, a Shanghai-born Olympic champion in track cycling women's team sprint at the 2016 Rio Games and the 2020 Tokyo Games, sent her best wishes for Thursday's event and a signature bicycle helmet for the memorial residence.

Sabatini from Italy, who has been in Shanghai for two years, and Norway's Eidskrem, who visited the city for the first time in 2018, also shared tips on adjusting better and more quickly into their new life.

"I think first of all you have to like the food," said Sabatini, "So I guess going out and eating as much food as possible here. Because while understanding the food you can understand the culture."

"The best way in my opinion is to be with the local people, to find Chinese friends, to share your culture, they will share their culture," said Eidskrem. "In this way no matter what country you have come from and no matter what background you have, you can find friends."

The cycling event was made possible thanks to the sponsorship and support from the Shanghai Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching Ling Cultural Relics Management Committee, Shanghai Xinhua Distribution Group of Shanghai United Media Group, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Competitive Sports Training Management Center, Hello Bike and Bank of Jiangsu Shanghai Branch.