Top 10 Surprising Facts About Kowloon Walled City

The Kowloon Walled City is 6.4 acres in size and is located in Kowloon City, Hong Kong. It was projected to have 50,000 people at its height, giving it a population density over 120 times larger than New York City.

Since authorities left it alone, it has become infamous for its linked high-rises and as a criminal haven. But there’s a lot more to the Walled City’s narrative.

So, here are 10 facts about the world’s most densely populated place.

Originally a small fort

Fort

During the Song dynasty, this structure was constructed (960-1279). It subsequently stood abandoned for hundreds of years until being transformed into a military outpost with a protective wall. During the Qing period, officials hoped to utilize the fort as a military outpost to keep British influence at bay.

As a result, the fort was upgraded in 1847 with the construction of a defensive wall. After the Qing dynasty’s reign came to an end, the British claimed control of the Walled City but did nothing with it. It was primarily a tourist attraction, and it was designated “Chinese Town” on a map from 1915.

When Hong Kong authorities pulled out and dismantled the crumbling structures in the 1930s, there were roughly 400 squatters living there. [Source: Wiki]

Raided by Japanese forces

Map of Japanese forces

They demolished the defensive wall and utilized the materials to build a new airport nearby. Following Japan’s surrender in 1945, individuals began to return to the Walled City.

By 1947, there were 2,000 squatters living there. They comprised refugees as well as individuals drawn in by the lack of restrictions. Many of the squatters were Chinese Civil War refugees seeking to flee mainland China.

As the population of the Walled City expanded, the British attempted but failed, to force away from the squatters in 1948. Following that, they took a “hands-off” approach to the Walled City.

Because there were no health and safety laws in the city, certain firms, such as food manufacturers, began to move there to take advantage of the absence of restrictions. [Source: Facts]

Cause Of Being The City So Dense

Dense city

People continued to build on top of old structures as the city’s population swelled. The city finally had 300 linked high-rise structures built room by room without the assistance of architects or building rules. It got so thick that sunlight was unable to penetrate to the lowest levels.

Because it was constantly dark on the lower floors, several alleyways featured fluorescent lights that were always turned on. Because there was a network of overhead pipes everywhere, and they were continuously leaking, people would wear umbrellas when walking through the passageways.

Because they were encased in the heart of the buildings, many apartments had no windows or access to fresh air.

The high-rises were so well-connected that you could go from one side of town to the other without ever touching the earth, instead of traveling through corridors and across roofs.

One of the few city regulations was that no building may be taller than 14 stories. That’s because the Walled City was so near to the airport that any larger structures would have impeded the flight path of low-flying jets.

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Attempts By The Residents To Escape Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia

Some upper-level inhabitants believed the rooftop to be a sanctuary, as it was their sole escape from the city’s claustrophobia.

Rooftops were frequently utilized for physical activity and as playgrounds. They were also used for pigeon racing, which citizens bet on in the same way they bet on horse races. However, because there were some minor spaces between the buildings, the rooftops may potentially be perilous.

In addition, due to a shortage of rubbish pickup, several people transported large junk objects to the roof. As a result, many rooftops were overrun with abandoned mattresses, broken furniture, and appliances.

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A Heaven For Crime

Crime rates

As the population increased and police kept their distance, the Walled City became a refuge for crime beginning in the 1950s. It was ruled by the Triads and had several brothels, opium dens, and gambling parlors. Laws were rarely enforced in the Walled City since the government had opted to leave it alone.

An earlier pact that said the territory would be left under the jurisdiction of mainland China was one of the reasons it had been left alone. However, during a murder trial in 1959, a judge determined that the Hong Kong government lacked jurisdiction. The city’s crime rate had risen to the point that police would only enter in big numbers.

According to reports, many police officers continued to turn a blind eye to operations in the city, either as a result of bribes or simply because it was too hazardous. As a result, the crime went mainly unnoticed for years. But it all changed in the 1970s.

The Massive Police Raid

Police raid

In 1973-74, police conducted over 3,500 raids in the Walled City, seizing almost 4,000 pounds of narcotics. There were anti-corruption initiatives in the 1970s that eliminated criminal elements from the police and damaged the Triads.

Following that, authorities conducted a major series of raids, arresting almost 2,500 individuals. The majority of the city’s population backed the police, and the raids lasted for years, having a considerable impact. The Walled City’s crime rate was declared under control by police in 1983.

Self Help Groups In The Darkness

Self-help groups

Despite the city’s high crime rate, the majority of its population were average, law-abiding folks. Many of them were active in community organizations in an attempt to improve life in the Walled City. In the city, there was a range of respectable companies and organizations.

Surprisingly, several of them were forced to share space. There were schools and hair salons, for example, that were turned into strip clubs and gambling halls at night.

One method citizens collaborated to develop the city was by constructing a functional water system. They collaborated to dig wells and construct hundreds of pipes that ran through the structures.

Pumping the water needed a significant amount of electricity, and residents took turns saving energy so that the water could be successfully shared.

Demolishment Of The City

Demolished City

The city was dismantled and transformed into a park in 1993. It’s currently known as Kowloon Walled City Park, and it’s a popular destination for visitors and birdwatchers. Some items from the Walled City, such as fragments of the South Gate, which functioned as the city’s primary entrance, are preserved in the park.

The original administrative office, which originates from the Qing period and was later used to house elders, has also been maintained. The park also has a museum dedicated to the Walled City.

Legacy Of Kowloon City

Top View

Some claim that the Walled City demonstrated how people can work together to accomplish great things. According to them, the citizens devised creative answers to issues and built a self-sufficient community that did not require supervision or an overarching plan.

When the Walled City was being dismantled, Aaron Tan, a graduate student at the time, wrote his thesis on it. He described the Walled City as a well-functioning machine and the deconstruction as dismantling the mechanism to learn how it works.

Reconstruction Into A Park

Kowloon city park

The city was dismantled and transformed into a park in 1993. It’s currently known as Kowloon Walled City Park, and it’s a popular destination for visitors and birdwatchers.

Some items from the Walled City, such as fragments of the South Gate, which functioned as the city’s primary entrance, are preserved in the park. The original administrative office, which originates from the Qing period and was later used to house elders, has also been maintained. The park also has a museum dedicated to the Walled City.