In Marco Polo's ancient footsteps

Documentary maker brings 62-year-old ambition to life by finishing explorer's fabled route, Xing Yi reports in London.

It's a story about pursuing one's dream, a story of collaboration between China and the United Kingdom, and a story of cultural exchanges and mutual learning — all contained within the new documentary film In the Footstep of Marco Polo, which had its world premiere in London earlier in July.

Marco Polo was an Italian merchant and explorer who traveled through Asia along the ancient Silk Road in the 13th century, ending his journey in Dadu, the capital of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), which is present-day Beijing.

His observations and details about his route were recorded in the book The Travels of Marco Polo, which was later translated into many European languages and that inspired generations of Western travelers to go East.

Stanley Johnson was one such follower of Marco Polo.

An author, environmentalist, and former member of the European Parliament, he is also the father of the former United Kingdom prime minister Boris Johnson.

Last year, Stanley and his youngest son, Max Johnson, participated in a China-UK documentary project that showcased the country's astonishing landscapes while featuring engaging interviews with locals and capturing the hilarious banter between the 84-year-old father and his 39-year-old son.

Following part of the ancient route, their journey covered more than 5,000 kilometers, starting from a land port 5,100 meters above sea level on the China-Pakistan border at the Khunjerab Pass and crossing the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, through the Taklamakan Desert, through Gansu province to the Mogao Caves, traversing the highlands of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and concluding in Beijing.