Travels Of Marco Polo: Twenty: Kublai Khan's Palace

Kublai Khan resides in a vast city of Kambalu, three months in a year- December to February. It is a square, a mile long on every side, the whole a square mile. An edifice stands at each angle. Implements of war like bows and arrows, cords, saddles and bridles are stored here. In the middle of each wall between two edifices stands another one, and here also weapons are stored. Toward the south are five gates, the middle one very large and having an edifice opened for the passage great Khan. Opposite side in the middle is a door with edifice of the same size, acommon passage for others. Within the outer wall is another with eight edifices. The floor rises ten palms above the ground, and the roofis exceedingly lofty. The walls of the chambers and stairs are covered by gold and silver; and adorned with the pictures of dragons, horses and other animals. The hall is so spacious that six thousands can sit down to banquet; and the number of apartments is incredible. The roof is externally painted with red, blue, green and other colours, and so varnished that it shines like a crystal, and is seen to a great distance around. It is very strong and durable. Between the walls are pleasant meadows filled with various living creatures, like white stags, the musk animals, deer, wild goats, ermines and so on. The whole enclosures are full of animals, except the path by which men pass. On the other side towards the south is a magnificent lake where many fish are brought and nurtured. A river enters and flows out, but the fish are retained by iron gratings. Towards north, about a bowshot from the palace, Kublai has constructed a mound, full a hundred paces high and a mile in circuite, all covered with evergreen trees which never shed their leaves. When he hears of a beautiful tree, he causes it to be dug up, with all the routes and earth around it, to be conveyed to him, on the back of elephants, and thus the place verdant all over and is called a green mountain. On the top is a palace all covered with verdure, and all who look upon the surrounding feels delight and joy. In the vicinity is another palace, where resides the grandson of great Khan, Temur, who is to reign after him, and who follows the same life and customs as his grandsire. He has already a golden bull and the imperial seal, but he has no authority while his grandfather lives.

____________________________________1.  Kambalu: Khanbaliq, the winter  capital of Kublai Khan. Its modern day name is Beijing. It was located in Khanbaliq, which was built around Daming Palace on Jade Island in Tayie lake. The palace was designed by Liu Bingzhong, a Chinese adviser to Kublai Khan. He was an architect and court adviser of Kublai Khan. He also advised Kublai Khan to adopt Chinese laws instead of Mongolian laws.