1. The Travels of Marco Polo: Polo's book, "The Travels of Marco Polo," provides detailed accounts of his experiences, observations, and encounters during his time in China. This extensive and vivid narrative serves as a primary source for understanding his journeys.
2. Chinese Records and Corroboration: Chinese historical texts and records mention a "Polo" or individuals with similar names who held positions in the Mongol Empire during the Yuan Dynasty. These records offer corroboration for Marco Polo's presence in China.
3. Descriptions of Chinese Culture and Geography: Polo's writings contain accurate descriptions of Chinese culture, geography, and societal practices. His accounts align well with what is known about China during the Yuan Dynasty.
4. Trade and Cultural Exchange: Marco Polo's narratives shed light on the extensive trade and cultural exchange that occurred along the Silk Road during his time. His observations of Chinese inventions and technologies, such as paper money, coal burning, and gunpowder, demonstrate his exposure to Chinese culture.
5. Lack of Direct Challenges: While some discrepancies and inaccuracies exist in Polo's accounts, there have not been any direct challenges or substantial counter-evidence that definitively refute the entirety of his journey to China.
Despite some debates and critiques of Marco Polo's travelogue over time, the consensus among historians and scholars is that he did indeed visit China and recorded his experiences as accurately as possible considering the era in which he lived and the limitations of communication and documentation at the time.