Siem Reap (802-present)

A Siem Reap (802-present) is a Southeast Asian city located at 13.3622° N and 103.8597° E, known for its cultural heritage and proximity to the Angkor Wat temple complex.

• Context:
  • It can (typically) have a Siem Reap Population (with languages such as Khmer, Old Khmer, Pali, French, and English).
  • It can (often) contain Ancient Khmer Architecture in both temples and other historic structures.
  • It can (often) be a base for exploring Angkor Wat and other nearby Angkorian Temples.
  • It can (often) maintain Traditional Khmer Arts and Traditional Khmer Crafts, contributing to its unique cultural landscape.
  • It can have French Colonial Architecture following the establishment of the French Protectorate of Cambodia (after 1863).
  • It can include Siem Reap Historic Districts such as the Old French Quarter, Old Market Area, and Wat Bo Area, adding to its heritage as a cultural site.
  • It can function as a Cultural Tourism Destination since the early 20th century, with tourist activity growing (after 1907).
  • It can be influenced by the Tonle Sap Lake Ecosystem, impacting its agriculture, fisheries, and cultural practices.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Siem Reap (802), during the establishment of the Angkor Empire.
  • Siem Reap (1200), reflecting the height of the Angkorian Civilization.
  • Siem Reap (1431), after the fall of Angkor to the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
  • Siem Reap (1863), marking the beginning of the French Protectorate of Cambodia.
  • Siem Reap (1907), when Angkor began restoration efforts by French explorers.
  • Siem Reap (1975-1979), under the Khmer Rouge Regime during Cambodia’s tragic period.
  • Siem Reap (1992), when Angkor was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Siem Reap (2020), selected as the ASEAN City of Culture for 2021-2022.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia.
  • Battambang, a major city in Cambodia known for its own historical sites and riverfront location.
  • Kampot, a Cambodian city known for its French colonial architecture and pepper farms.
  • Sihanoukville, a coastal city in Cambodia recognized for its beaches and port.
  • Luang Prabang, a city in Laos with its own UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.
  • Chiang Mai, a northern Thai city known for its temples and mountain setting.
• See: Angkor Archaeological Park, Tonle Sap, Cambodian Tourism, Khmer Architecture, French Colonial Heritage, Siem Reap Province.

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References

2022

• (Wikipedia, 2022) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siem_Reap Retrieved:2022-1-9.
  • Siem Reap is the second largest city of Cambodia, as well as the capital and largest city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia.

    Siem Reap has French colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter and around the Old Market. In the city, there are museums, traditional Apsara dance performances, a Cambodian cultural village, souvenir and handicraft shops, silk farms, rice paddies in the countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near Tonlé Sap, and a cosmopolitan drinking and dining scene. Cambodia’s Siem Reap city, home to the famous Angkor temples, was crowned the ASEAN City of Culture for the period 2021-2022 at the 9th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) organised on Oct 22, 2020.

    Siem Reap today—being a popular tourist destination—has many hotels, resorts, and restaurants. This owes much to its proximity to the Angkor Wat temples, Cambodia's most popular tourist attraction.

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