See Angkor Wat in China at major museum shows(2)

The Smile of Khmer: Cambodian Ancient Cultural Relics and Art exhibition gives Beijing visitors deeper insight into the ancient Angkor heritage. [Photo by Wang Kaihao / China Daily]

In 1296, Zhou Daguan, a diplomat from China's Yuan Dyansty (1271-1368) arrived in Cambodia, and later wrote The Customs of Cambodia, the world's only surviving first-person written account of daily life in the Khmer Empire.

It remains one of the most significant historical records of Angkor Wat from the time.

"I am confident that this (the exhibition) will bring more attention to the Khmer heritage and the monuments outside the Angkor complex," Pheourn says.

"It will enhance Chinese understanding of Cambodia's history and culture, and promote cultural tourism in Cambodia."

"The exhibition is more than a visual delight for regular museum visitors," says Gu Yucai, deputy director of China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

"It will provide a precious opportunity to the two countries' scholars on the history of religions and fine arts to exchange ideas as well."

Cambodia's government and UNESCO jointly launched a campaign to rescue Angkor Wat in 1993. Gu's administration first sent a panel of experts to study the World Heritage site in 1996 and began a long-term ongoing cooperative project to renovate and protect the Khmer cultural site.

"The conservation of Angkor is China's first official international cooperation in terms of cultural heritage," Gu says.

"Chinese cultural heritage professionals have not only made their contributions to the restoration of Angkor but also gained systematic knowledge of Cambodia's culture and history as well as the various concepts and technologies to protect cultural heritage worldwide, which greatly boosted our own capacity in the field."

IF YOU GO

9 am-5 pm, no entrance after 4 pm.

The museum is closed on Mondays. Hall A, third floor, Capital Museum, 16 Fuxingmenwai Dajie (Avenue), Xicheng district, Beijing.

No entrance fee, but reservations are needed.

Phone 010-6339-3339 or book online at www.capitalmuseum.org.cn.