Marco Polo was an Italian explorer and merchant. At 17, he began his journey to central Asia with his father and uncle. After about three years, the family finally reached China and spent the next 17 years there. Polo traveled around China and even went to lands where Myanmar and Vietnam are today. He returned to his country with stories and many riches and treasures. Later, he told the details of his journeys to a writer named Rustichello, who wrote it all down into a book.