Marco Polo (1254 – 1324) was an Italian merchant, explorer, and writer, born in the Republic of Venice. His travels are recorded in "The Book of the Marvels of the World" (also known as "The Travels of Marco Polo"), a book that described to Europeans the wealth and great size of China, its capital Peking, and other Asian cities and countries.

His father and uncle often traded into the west coast of the Mediterranean Sea. On one fortuitous occasion, they went to China and met with Kublai Khan, an emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. Young Marco Polo was very interested in listening to the stories of their travels and made up his mind to go to China.

In 1271, when he was 17 years old his dream came true. Marco Polo was attracted by beautiful Kashgar and Hetian famed for its jade. Then they traversed Taklimakan Desert, arrived in Dunhuang and visited the Mogao Grottoes, noted for Buddhist sculptures and frescos. They continued on their journey along the Hexi Corridor and reached Shang-du in Inner Mongolia (the summer palace of Kublai Khan) in 1275 AD. Kublai Khan gave them a hospitable reception there and took them to Dadu (now Beijing).

Clever Marco Polo quickly learned Mongolian, Chinese and became familiar with the Chinese customs. Soon he became a confidant of Kublai Khan. He was appointed to high posts in the court and was sent on many special diplomatic missions to many places in China, India and some kingdoms of Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, Burma, and Sumatra.

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