Marco Polo (1254—1324) wasa world famous traveler and businessman from Italy in the 13th century. He was born in a merchant family in Venice of Italy in 1254. It took him more than four years to reach the Mongol Empire, traveling through the Middle East with his father and uncle when he was 17 years old. He made a very good friendship with Kublai Khan. He spent 17 years in China, visiting many of the ancient cities of China,including Yunnan in the southwest and the southeast.He also served as an official in the Yuan Dynasty.

In 1289, after his wife died, the Persian king Aruhun sent three envoys to propose marriage to the Empire Yuan . Kublai Khan chose Kublai Kuo Kuo Zhen as the princess of Yuan . Marco Polo took the opportunity to ask Kublai Khan to take part in the escort mission, so that they can return home on their way after completing their mission.In the spring of 1292, Marco Polo sailed from Quanzhou to Persia with three emissaries to escort Princess Kuo Kuo Zhen. In 1295, Marco Polo's family returned to Italy.

After returning to Italy, Marco Polo was captured in a naval battle. In prison he dictated a great many stories about China. His cellmate, Lucien, wrote the famous travels of Marco Polo. The travels of Marco Polo, describing his experiences in China, the richest country in the East, aroused the enthusiasm of Europeans for the East. It had a great impact on the opening of new routes and was also an important historical book to study the history and geography of  Yuan Dynasty