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Cambodia Pavilion

Entitled “Kingdom of Cambodia, Kingdom of Wonder,” the Cambodia Pavilion allows visitors to experience the faith, harmony, and heritage of the country through its three most important cities: Angkor Wat at Siem Reap, Kbal Chhay at Sihanoukville, and Phnom Penh.

The façade of the Ta Prohm Gate welcomes Expo 2012 attendees to the pavilion. Ta Prohm is the modern name of a temple at Angkor Wat, built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara. Located approximately one kilometer east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found. The photogenic and atmospheric jungle surroundings and trees growing out of the ruins have made Ta Prohm one of Angkor's most popular temples.

Once inside the pavilion, visitors enter the Cambodian Faith Zone, where they explore the roots of Cambodian culture. They can take a walk along a recreation of the Angkor Wat Corridor, where the ancient historic wall carvings depict the myths and legends of the Khmer empire.

A statue of Suryavarman II stands nearby. He was the builder of Angkor Wat and was King of the Khmer Empire from 1113 AD to 1145-1150 AD. His reign's monumental architecture, numerous military campaigns, and restoration of strong government have led historians to rank him as one of the empire's greatest kings.

The culture of Cambodia has a rich and varied history dating back many centuries. The golden age of Cambodia was during the Angkor period between the 9th and 14th century, where it was a powerful and prosperous empire which flourished and dominated almost all of inland Southeast Asia. Cambodia's unparalleled achievements in art, architecture, music, and dance during this golden period have had great influence on neighboring kingdoms. The influence of Angkorian culture can still be seen today in those countries, as they share many close characteristics with current-day Cambodia.

Next, visitors enter Cambodia Bay in Sihanoukville. As the newest Cambodian city, Sihanoukville doesn't have a long history like Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Sihanoukville, also known as Kampong Saom, is an important growing Cambodian city as it is the only deep water port in Cambodia. It was founded in 1960 in order to link the city with international trade after independence from France.

Besides being an important trading port for Cambodia, Sihanoukville is a popular beach tourist destination. Cambodia Bay is situated in the southwest of the Kingdom of Cambodia and spreads over 4 provinces. Ochheuteal Beach is by far the most popular beach in Sihanoukville. Cambodia’s coastal and island beaches have been described in the international media as Southeast Asia’s new frontier for ocean resorts and marine tourism development, because of the many beautiful and still untouched natural environments.

Finally, visitors experience Phnom Penh, the heart of Cambodian economic development. Here, amid graphics and faux facades of iconic buildings (including The Independence Monument), visitors get a sense of what it’s like to visit Cambodia’s capital city.