An exhibition of photos by the National Geographic magazine of the United States over the past 100 years, will debut at Beijing's Millennium Monument on Nov 11, to retrace Marco Polo's journey to China 700 years ago.

The two-month exhibition, marking the 850th anniversary of Beijing city's founding, is co-sponsored by the Beijing Cultural Development Fund, Millennium Monument Development Fund, the United States-based National Geographic Society, and the National Geographic magazine.

The organizers said Wednesday the contracted photographer, Michael Yamashita, spent three years traveling across 10 countries to China in the footsteps of the Venetian explorer, taking thousands of photos en route.

The exhibition, covering a wide range of subjects like natural spectacles, wildlife, customs and civilization, will feature human existence in different cultures.

In 1271, a 17-year-old Marco Polo came to China via the ancient Silk Road, and many years later wrote his travelogue, known as the first book about China by a Westerner.

(People's Daily September 25, 2003)