Shang-Tu (Kublai Khan's Summer Palace)

Kublai Khan's summer palace at Shang-Tu, located beyond the Pamir in Cathay, serves as a key imperial seat of power. The palace complex includes an opulent throne room where intricate Chinese architecture contrasts with Mongol authority. The Doctor, Marco Polo, and their companions are summoned here, where political intrigues unfold—including revelations about Noghai's army and Tegana's betrayal. The palace's halls and pavilions gleam gold under vast hunting grounds, and it plays a central role in the journey's climax, where the Doctor is trapped and the group's fate is decided. The palace is also the site of Ping-Cho's arranged marriage and the departure point for the caravan's forced march to Peking.