Marco Polo became a legend after his epic, 24 year trek across Asia. Was he the world's greatest overland explorer? Or the biggest liar? National Geographic's own legend, Michael Yamashita, used Polo's book as a guide to find the truth.
Perhaps no land journey in human history is more famous than Marco Polo's legendary 24 year trek across Asia. But was it all just a big lie? As described in his 1299 book, the peripatetic Venetian merchant encountered such wonders as the "singing sand dunes" of Dunhuang, China, "mountains of salt" in present-day Afghanistan, and the glories of the Mongol court of Kublai Khan. Generations of Europeans were spellbound by Polo's account, yet in recent years some scholars have questioned its authenticity. For an extensive three part series in National Geographic, legendary photographer Michael Yamashita tested the famed Venetian's reputation - using Polo's own book as his travel guide.—Farland Chang
800 years ago a young Venetian set out on what was to become one of the most influential journeys ever made. Perhaps no land journey in human history is more famous than Marco Polo's legendary 24 year trek across Asia. But was it all just a big lie?
National Geographic's legendary photographer Michael Yamashita tested the famed Venetian's reputation - using Polo's own book as his travel guide.
Polo's adventures took him well beyond the boundaries of the known world of Persia to a land that was almost completely unexplored - the mysterious Middle Kingdom. As described in his 1299 book, the peripatetic Venetian merchant encountered such wonders as the "singing sand dunes" of Dunhuang, China, "mountains of salt" in present-day Afghanistan, and the glories of the Mongol court of Kublai Khan. Generations of Europeans were spellbound by Polo's account.
But ever since he returned, there were those who doubted Marco Polo. Did he really see what he described in his legendary book, 'Description of the World' or did he merely describe what others told him.
Nat Geo's own intrepid explorer and master storyteller, Michael Yamashita, follows Polo's book from the lofty heights of the Pamir Mountains to the fabled city of Xanadu in Mongolia. In so doing he attempts to unravel some of the age old mystery: Did Marco Polo really go to China?
For the National Geographic Channel, this groundbreaking film is one of the most popular programs ever broadcast. For Michael Yamashita, this is the first of his two globally acclaimed documentaries. And through these films, like never before, viewers can travel back centuries in time, as Yamashita retraces the epic journeys of two of the world's greatest explorers: Italy's Marco Polo from the west and China's Zheng He from the east.
These award-winning programs are now the inspiration for the upcoming documentary series, East Meets West, by Farland Chang, and based on the lifetime of work by Michael Yamashita.
