Marco Polo is famous for his journeys across Asia. He was one of the first Europeans to travel in Mongoliaand China. He wrote a famous book called 'The Travels'. He was born in Venice, Italy in 1254. In 1272, whenhe was only 17 years old, he travelled to Asia with his father and uncle. The journey was very long. Theyvisited a lot of places and saw wonderful things: eye glasses, ice-cream, spaghetti and the riches of Asia.After three years they entered China through the Great Wall. In 1275 Хубилай Khon, the Emperor of China, met the visitors at his Summer Palace in the capital of China at Xanadu. The palace was very beautiful.There were a lot of gold things and silk curtains. The Emperor gave a big banquet. There were more than athousand people in the palace. On the emperor's birthday 5,000 soldiers rode through the city to the.palace on elephants. Marco Polo visited some huge markets, where merchants from all over the worldbought and sold all kinds of things. He was happy to see one of the greatest cities of the thirteenth centuryand spent 18 years in China. When he returned to Italy in 1295, he became a popular storyteller. Peoplecame to his home to hear stories about his journeys in the East. Many of them did not believe him. When hedied, he said: 'I haven't told half of what I saw, because no one can believe it.'
Today Astana is not only the capital of Kazakhstan but also one of the most beautiful Asian cities. Formerly, it was a small town known as Akmola, which served as a Russian fortification. The location for the town was chosen as a strategic point and a caravans’ route. For a long time the town was famous for its fairs and trade connections. People from all corners of Central Asia travelled there to buy and sell the goods. Being situated on the banks of scenic Ishim River, Astana attracts thousands of visitors each year. Today it is a rapidly growing modern city. It is full of magnificent attractions, educational institutions, hotels, office buildings and other commercial structures. It boasts well-developed transport infrastructure and rather favourable environment. The population of the city is a bit over 800, 000 people. The sights of the city are especially attractive. Among them, the Bayterek Tower, the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center, the Nur Astana Mosque and many other picturesque attractions. The Bayterek Tower is especially important for local residents. It’s the symbol of happiness and prosperity. In fact, it accommodates the art gallery, the restaurant and the aquarium. Generally speaking, the inhabitants of Astana are considered to be very friendly and magnanimous. That’s another reason to visit this welcoming south capital. Its present name the city got in 1998, when the President of the country decided to rename it. The summers in the city are hot and dry, while the winters are frosty and long. It goes without saying that all governmental organizations and large business centers of Kazakhstan are now placed there. Each year the city hosts numerous diplomatic and industrial meetings.
