Kublai Khan and all his most important men were waiting for the there travellers in his summer palace at Shangdu. Marco later gave us a wonderful description of their conversation with the famous ruler.
When the soldiers first brought the Polos to the Khan, they immediately sat from of him and looked down at the floor. The Khan was very happy to see them again and he asked them to stand up at once.
The brothers then gave him the special letters from Pope Gregory and the oil from Jerusalem. He was very happy with these presents and he began to ask the brothers all about their long journey and also for news of the Pope.
Niccolo and Maffeo talked for a long time and explained all about their problems with the priests. The Khan Listened silently to their story and in the end he understood everything.
After this important conversation, the Khan then saw Marco. He was standing behind his father and uncle.
'who is this young man?' asked the Khan, and Marco came nearer to him.
'That is your servant and my son,' said Niccolo.
'He is welcome and it pleases me much,' replied the Khan. And he then asked the travellers to have a special meal with him.
The Khan welcomed the Polos into the daily lift of his court. After his long journey, Marco looked with surprise at the many different things all around him-there was a big park with large numbers of the Khan's animals. He had over three hundred of the most handsome birds and a grouup of snow-white horses.
In the middle of the park, there was a huge tent with more than two hundred silk ropes to hold it up-this was the centre of the summer court. 'It is the most wonderful thing in the world,' wrote Marco later. It looked like a strong building but the Khan's men could easily move it to a different place when necessary.