Killing Fields (Choeung Ek)

Choeung Ek — The Killing Fields

15 km south of Phnom Penh lie the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek — the most famous of over 300 execution sites of the Khmer Rouge across the country. Prisoners from S-21 were brought here and murdered. An estimated 17,000 people were executed here between 1975 and 1979 and buried in mass graves.

The Tour

A path leads across the site, past the excavation sites of the mass graves — some are now water-filled depressions, others marked rectangles in the grass. In some places, bones and fabric scraps still surface after heavy rains.

The audioguide (included in the entrance fee) is one of the best ever produced. It guides you from station to station, lets survivors speak, and explains the history with dignity and restraint. Take the time for all 19 stations — at least 1.5–2 hours.

The Stupa Memorial

At the center of the site stands a 17-story glass stupa, filled with over 8,000 skulls, sorted by age and gender. A silent, dignified memorial to the victims. Most skulls show injuries from blunt objects — the Khmer Rouge "saved" ammunition.

The so-called "Killing Tree", where children were murdered, is the most emotional point of the site. Visitors leave bracelets and flowers.