PHNOM PENH, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A documentary chronicling China's efforts to restore Cambodia's 10th-century Royal Palace of Angkor Thom has gained much attention at an international film festival in the Cambodian capital, shining a light on a forgotten Khmer treasure and the cross-cultural collaboration behind its revival.
Titled "Reviving Angkor's Royal Palace," the film, produced by Xinhua News Agency in 2025, transports viewers into the jungles of northwest Cambodia to uncover the Royal Palace at the heart of Angkor Thom, a once-grand residence of Khmer kings that had been lost to time. It follows a team of Chinese and Cambodian experts as they work meticulously to breathe new life into the sacred site, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern conservation techniques.
The documentary is among roughly 150 films from more than 40 countries and regions selected for screening at the 15th Cambodia International Film Festival, which runs from March 24 to 29 across venues in Phnom Penh. The festival has evolved into one of the largest film events in Cambodia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Phoeurng Sackona, Cambodia's Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, said.
"Reviving Angkor's Royal Palace" highlights China's significant contribution to protecting and developing the ancient temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park, said Cheap Sovichea, director of the Cambodia Film Commission.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Cambodia's most popular tourist destination, the Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples built between the ninth and 13th centuries. Its preservation has drawn support from around the world, with China emerging as a key partner in its restoration.
Under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund, a Chinese initiative to finance small- and medium-sized cooperation projects among the six LMC countries, the eastern causeway of the centuries-old Beng Mealea temple within the park has been strengthened and restored, enhancing its appeal to visitors, APSARA National Authority, the official body in charge of the preservation of the Angkor Archaelogical Park, said in Feburary.
China's involvement in Angkor's restoration dates to the 1990s, when it successfully restored the Chau Say Tevoda and Ta Keo temples.
Since 2019, Chinese experts have been engaged in an 11-year project to restore the Phimeanakas temple, located within the walled enclosure of the Angkor Thom Royal Palace. Their work has been recognized: In 2022, Cambodia awarded government honorary medals to two Chinese experts for their "historical and substantial contributions" to restoring the site's ruined temples.
Projects like the Royal Palace restoration not only protect Cambodia's past but also build bridges for the kingdom's future.
Beyond preserving cultural relics, the restoration efforts have bolstered Cambodia's economy, a nation where tourism is a major pillar of growth. In 2025, the Angkor Archaeological Park attracted 955,131 foreign visitors from 197 countries and regions, generating nearly 45 million U.S. dollars in ticket revenue, according to Angkor Enterprise, the state-owned body that manages the site.
Cambodia's pilot visa-free policy for Chinese citizens, in effect from June 15 to Oct. 15, is expected to drive a surge in Chinese arrivals to the park, said Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science in Phnom Penh.
"With strong air connectivity and effective promotion, I believe the number of Chinese tourists to Angkor will keep rising this year," he said. ■
