Marco Polo was a person.
Marco Polo ( [ ˈmɑrkoʊ_ˈpoʊloʊ ] [ ˈmarko ˈpɔːlo ] ; 1254January 8 -- 9 , 1324 ) was a Venetian merchant traveller . He learned the mercantile trade from his father and uncle , Niccolò and Maffeo , who travelled through Asia and met Kublai Khan . The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia , returning after 24 years to find Venice at war with Genoa ; Marco was imprisoned and dictated his stories to a cellmate . He was released in 1299 , became a wealthy merchant , married , and had three children . Marco Polo was not the first European to reach China ( see Europeans in Medieval China ) , but he was the first to leave a detailed chronicle of his experience .