The Venetian traveller Marco Polo visited the Court of Kublai Khan. His accounts give us an idea not only of China but of the whole of the Far East too. Before Marco Polo came, his father Nicolo and his uncle Maffeo Polo had come to China once. At the request of Kublai Khan they came to China on a second occasion. This time they took with them the young Marco Polo. Very soon Marco Polo earned the special favour of Kublai Khan who even appointed him the Governor of the Han-Chow province for a brief period.The Three Polos
Marco, Nicolo and Maffeo started from Venice (in Italy) and journeyed through Armenia and Persia across the Gobi desert to reach China. After a sojourn of 17 years in China, they left China by boat (see Marco's route in the map).They sailed Upto the Persian Gulf and thence proceeded over land to the Mediterranean Sea, arriving Venice in 1295 AD.
Much is known of the Empire of Kublai Khan and the countries of the Far East from a perusal of his Travels of Marco Polo the Venetian. It is said that Marco Polo narrated his varied experiences to his friend who wrote the said book. The book has immense historical value. From this book the Europeans, for the first time, learnt about the prosperity of the countries of the Far East. Following the travels of Marco Polo, the enterprising European merchants and missionaries came to China, India, Indo-China and other countries of the East with various purposes.
Marco Polo spoke highly of the excellent behaviour and taste of the people of Han-Chow, a province of China, where he was appointed the Governor. According to him, the roads of Han-Chow were metalled.
The pomp and splendour of Khanabalik, the capital and Kublai's Court, fascinated Marco Polo. He frankly Admitted that such a charming and prosperous city and such a powerful king had not been found by him before. He also mentioned the riches and wealth of Japan, the Indian Yogis and a powerful queen of South India.
