After completing his Abitur primus omnium in 1891, he pursued medical schooling in Marburg (1891–1893), Tübingen (SS 1893) und Munich (1893–1895).

In the following years, he continued to build expertise in the areas of Infectious-and-Tropical Diseases by studying in London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Berlin and Paris.

[4] In 1898, he travelled to subtropical Dongguan (东莞), China, then called Tungkun, for a specialized training in Tropical and Infectious Disease.

The hospital compound was initially located entirely within the city walls, surrounded by Chinese dwelling, but since 1903–1906, it was relocated the bank of the East River, where cases from afar can be brought by boat directly.

[15][2] Along with yearly missionary reports, Olpp wrote many academic papers and reflections on his medical experience in China to Germany via the magazine Deutschen Tropenmedizinischen Zeitschrift and Münchener Medizinische Wochenschrift (Munich Medicine Weekly).

[7] He translated and introduced parts of TCM literature, mainly from TCM classics during the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as the Ming Yi Lei An (《名医类案[16]》 A Compilation of Healing Methods of Famous Doctors), the Shou Shi Bao Yuan (《寿世保元[17]》 Longevity and Life Preservation), the book on surgery Jin Jian Wai Ke (《金鉴外科》 Golden Mirror of Surgery), Wang Shu He Tu Zhu Nan Jing Mai Jue (《王叔和图注难经脉决》Work of Wang Shuhe about Classics of Difficult Inquiries and Rhyming Book of Pulse), Ben Cao Gang Mu, Xuan Er Chuang Tu (《旋耳疮图》 Picture of Ulcer Behind the Ear), Chen Xiu Yuan Yi Shu Er Shi Yi Zhong (《陈修园医书二十一种》 Twenty-one Kinds of Medicine Books by Chen Xiuyuan), the Zeng Ding Yan Fang Xin Bian (《增订验方新编》 Revised Edition of New Compilation of Empirical Formulas), and the Xu Hui Xi Xian Sheng Shi San Zhong (《徐洄溪先生十三种》 Thirteen Kinds of Books.

In his later monograph On Chinese Medicine from the Perspective of Tropical Pathology, he wrote that Prolapsus uteri is partly caused by "new mothers who stood up too soon and the unskilled handling of ignorant local midwives."

On the mass spread of tuberculosis in South China, he attributed a partial cause to the Chinese's lack of awareness about the dangers of infection.

On the other hand, the failure of European treatment methods for internal disease was attributed to patients first consulting Chinese doctors.

[23] Yuan suggests that Olpp, along with other medical missionaries of the time, did not encounter actual TCM because the majority of their patients belonged to the lower class, who can only afford "quacks and European hospitals and doctors, where cheaper or free treatments are offered," whereas those from the upper social class, by and large, continued to use Traditional Chinese physicians.

There, he described "the work that has commenced auspiciously in Germany" and ended his address with reverence to "the great missionary, Livingstone" and "our Lord Jesus Christ.

"[25] In that same year, he compiled the monograph Beiträge zur Medizin in China mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Tropenpathologie ("On Chinese Medicine from the Perspective of Tropical Pathology"), consisting of his extensive multilingual research, 9-year observations and medical experiences in Dongguan.

[28] In 1916, he was appointed as chief physician for the newly opened Tübinger Tropengenesungsheims (Tuebinger Convalescent Homes), also called Tropical Clinic Paul-Lechler-Hospital.

[29] Olpp held an address about the clinic and its importance in global medical missions at a conference by natural sciences and medicine organization in Tübingen on 14 May 1916[30] and wrote about it at length on the magazine Deutsche Medizinische Zeitschrift in 1936.

Olpp's reports to the Rhenish Mission Society, his own publications on missionary experiences and frequent articles on the Munich Medicine Weekly provided a lot of valuable information about the medical and hygienic conditions in China at the time.

[2] On 5 October 1916, along with many in his military cohort, he was given the Wilhelm Cross with Sword Medal (Wilhelmskreuz mit Schwerter) issued by the State of Württemberg for his service as a doctor and Landwehr.