The Polos-Marco, his father Niccolo, and his uncle Maffeo- had been traveling for three-and-a-half years when they finally achieved their objective-a long-awaited meeting with the powerful Mongol leader, Kublai Khan. The historic event took place in 1275 at the Khan's luxurious summer capital' in Shangdu, in what is now northern China. As he greeted his tired guests, Kublai Khan was surprisingly informal: "Welcome, gentlemen! Please stand up. How've you been? How was the trip?