Discussion about marco Polo and the chinese

DISCUSS: WAS Marco Polo the Paul Revere or James Bond of his century?

Chapter 4 opens with the impression of Marco Polo regarding city life in China?? the inhabitants of the city are idolaters, and they use paper money as currency?the greater part of them are always clothed in silk??

1) Why the description of the Chinese people as ?idolaters ?worshipping idols??

2) Was it a term of endearment or a slander?

3) Our, modern day ?interpretation? would suggest Polo viewed the Chinese as pagans or heathens.