In Xanadu: A Quest

In 1986, twenty-two-year-old William Dalrymple set out to trace the thirteenth-century route of Marco Polo from Jerusalem to Xanadu in Inner Mongolia. Carrying a flask of holy oil from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre intended for the palace of Kubla Khan, he traversed the Karakoram Highway and crossed borders through Pakistan and western China. The narrative documents his face-to-face encounters with local bureaucrats and distant cultures, contrasting ancient historical records with the geopolitical realities of the late twentieth century.

This book serves readers interested in historical geography and the practicalities of overland transit through central Asia. It appeals to those who value observational humor and specific cultural anecdotes over abstract theory. Readers gain a detailed understanding of the Silk Road’s history and the physical challenges of navigating remote territories. It provides a clear view of how medieval trade routes have evolved into modern political landscapes, offering a template for sustained curiosity in unfamiliar environments.