Under the Yuan, both domestic and foreign merchants prospered. Here is a portion from Marco Polo's famous account of China:

And in each of these suburbs or districts for perhaps a mile distant from the city are many and fine factories in which stay and lodge the merchants and the traveling foreigners, of whom there are many from all parts to bring things as presents to the lord and to sell to the court, and all other men who come there for their business, who come there in very great quantity, between [those who come] for the court of the lord (and wherever he holds his court the people come there from every side for various reasons) and for this that the town is in so good a market that the merchants and the other men come here for their...