"...on the one side lies the city in its entire length, so that spectators may take in its full beauty and grandeur, with its numberless palaces, temples and monasteries, sloping to the shore..."
In recollections of his journeys through China and the East, Marco Polo vividly
described many sights and stories that no person in the West had ever imagined. Although Marco made his journeys during the period 1270 to 1295, many of his memories do indeed strike a familiar chord with travelers today. In the passage above, he describes the ancient city of Kinsay, now known as Hangzhou, a city that still provides a panoramic view from its ancient river, a characteristic of many of China's now modernized coastal cities.
Marco Polo was a businessman, son of a jewel trader from Venice. He ventured into China partly out of his love of travel and partly out of his entrepreneurial ambitions.
Kublai Khan, then ruler of the Mongols and the largest empire in the world, encompassing China, was so impressed with Marco's spirit and love of travel that he gave the young Italian special missions to undertake on the King's behalf. Marco was given a gold tableau bearing the King's marque, thereby assuring him of protection and
passage wherever he traveled throughout the kingdom.
"Beside the city there is a Lake which has a compass of some 30 miles (note: probably 30 Chinese li, about 4/10ths of a mile) and all round it are erected beautiful palaces and mansions, of the richest and most exquisite structure that you can imagine. And when any one of the citizens desired to hold a marriage feast, or to give any other entertainment, it would be done at one of these palaces. And everything would be found there, such as silver plate, dishes, nappery, and whatever else was needful."
"Beside the city there is a Lake which has a compass of some 30 miles (note: probably 30 Chinese li, about 4/10ths of a mile) and all round it are erected beautiful palaces and mansions, of the richest and most exquisite structure that you can imagine. And when any one of the citizens desired to hold a marriage feast, or to give any other entertainment, it would be done at one of these palaces. And everything would be found there, such as silver plate, dishes, nappery, and whatever else was needful."
Marco Polo's stories revealed much about China that would have seemed remarkable at the time. He was perhaps the first to make known to the world one of China's most noted traditions, still widely practiced today:
"The people here have a custom, that as soon as a child is born they write down the day and hour and the planet and sign under which its birth has taken place; so that every one among them knows the day of his birth. And when any one intends a journey he goes to the astrologers, and gives the particulars of his nativity in order to learn whether he shall have good luck or no. The astrologers are skilled as often their words come to pass, so the people have great faith in them."
Even in the 13th century, China's cities and provinces were keen trading partners, with people moving from province to province buying and selling goods. Marco Polo was more than a traveler; as a jewel trader he was quite probably the first true international business traveler!
"Merchants and Craftsmen from other parts who visit for the sake of trade are treated with great cordiality, entertained in the most winning manner and afforded every help and advice on their business."
The original story of his travels was penned by an acquaintance of Marco's, a fellow prisoner of war, after the two found themselves in a Genoese prison during a time of internal unrest in Italy, sometime after 1298. And as there are no records in China retained from this sensitive period when the country was ruled by Kublai Khan and the Mongol empire, we only have Marco's word. But such are his words and such is the uncanny, and in places unquestionable, accuracy with which he described China in the 13th century, seen through the eyes of a Westerner for the first time, his legend is one that is welcomed by all who share his joy of travel and fascination for China.
To add to the legend, the original manuscript is reportedly lost. However, many publishers over the years have researched and produced books on Marco Polo, following the man and the legend, tracing the 25 years he spent in the East.
And when in Asia, experience a welcome that has become equally as legendary, and a tribute to Marco's love of travel, by staying at a Marco Polo hotel.
"The people here have a custom, that as soon as a child is born they write down the day and hour and the planet and sign under which its birth has taken place; so that every one among them knows the day of his birth. And when any one intends a journey he goes to the astrologers, and gives the particulars of his nativity in order to learn whether he shall have good luck or no. The astrologers are skilled as often their words come to pass, so the people have great faith in them."
Even in the 13th century, China's cities and provinces were keen trading partners, with people moving from province to province buying and selling goods. Marco Polo was more than a traveler; as a jewel trader he was quite probably the first true international business traveler!
"Merchants and Craftsmen from other parts who visit for the sake of trade are treated with great cordiality, entertained in the most winning manner and afforded every help and advice on their business."
The original story of his travels was penned by an acquaintance of Marco's, a fellow prisoner of war, after the two found themselves in a Genoese prison during a time of internal unrest in Italy, sometime after 1298. And as there are no records in China retained from this sensitive period when the country was ruled by Kublai Khan and the Mongol empire, we only have Marco's word. But such are his words and such is the uncanny, and in places unquestionable, accuracy with which he described China in the 13th century, seen through the eyes of a Westerner for the first time, his legend is one that is welcomed by all who share his joy of travel and fascination for China.
To add to the legend, the original manuscript is reportedly lost. However, many publishers over the years have researched and produced books on Marco Polo, following the man and the legend, tracing the 25 years he spent in the East.
And when in Asia, experience a welcome that has become equally as legendary, and a tribute to Marco's love of travel, by staying at a Marco Polo hotel.
