When Marco Polo, the legendary traveler and explorer from Venice, visited Hangzhou about eight centuries ago, he was overwhelmed by its beauty and regarded it "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world."

In addition to being the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo, this year also marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy.

"We are simply following in the footsteps of Marco Polo," said Francesco D'Arelli, director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Shanghai.