Marco Polo and China: inauguration of his statue at Quanzhou

A statue dedicated to Marco Polo has been unveiled near Jiangkou Wharf (an ancient pier), one of the 22 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Quanzhou. The statue was crafted by Wu Deqiang, a nationally recognized master of arts and crafts in Quanzhou. The image that inspired the statue was scanned from books and mosaic images preserved in Italy. The auspicious words for its dimensions come from the professional terminology of the "Chinese craftsman Lu Ban."

The city of Quanzhou was an important starting point for the ancient Maritime Silk Road. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, it was known as the largest port in the East, trading with more than a hundred countries worldwide. Marco Polo, the great Venetian traveler, lived in China for seventeen years, spending two of those years in Quanzhou before returning home. After returning to Italy, he completed The Travels of Marco Polo, in which he described Quanzhou as one of the world's largest ports, highly praising the bustling scene of merchants gathered there during that time.

This year marks the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death. To honor his contributions to the exchange and mutual understanding between Chinese and Western civilizations, on October 30, 2024, the municipal government of Quanzhou will hold commemorative events, including the unveiling ceremony of the Marco Polo statue and a symposium dedicated to the Venetian traveler. Two guests from Italy will attend the symposium: Massimo Andreoli, from the National Committee for the 700th Anniversary of Marco Polo's Death, and Guicciardo Sassoli de’ Bianchi Strozzi, one of the curators of the exhibition Journey of Knowledge: The Travels of Marco Polo and Its Legacy between East and West, held at the World Art Museum in Beijing.