In this wall street journal interactive, you can take a trip through the city, explore its history and hear from the people who lived there. The convention for the extension of hong kong territory of 1898 handed the new territories over to britain for 99 years, but excluded the walled city which, by then, had a population of around 700. Life in kowloon walled city city of darkness revisited. In the 1970s, many of these thaichinese families came to hong kong to join the city s booming economy, and they were drawn to kowloon city because of the large chiu chow population in the nearby walled city. Walled city finds an extensive mention in doctor robin cooks 1991 novel. See more ideas about walled city, kowloon walled city and city. Book your tickets online for kowloon walled city park, hong kong. Kowloon walled city park hong kong all you need to. Kowloon walled city park hong kong 2020 all you need. By 1990, the walled city contained 50,000 residents within.
This britishchinese hybrid astounds visitors with its striking juxtaposition of dense skyscrapers and lush landscapes. Though demolished 20 years ago, fascination in kowloon walled city just continues to grow, fired in part by the many urban legends that forever swirl around this extraordinary community. The walled city was torn down in 1992 but the photographs, oral histories, maps and essays in our book provide the most thorough record of daily life in a place that was a true hong kong original. See more ideas about kowloon walled city, walled city and city. It was developed into a small coastal fort in 1810 and was improved in 1847 following the arrival of the british. Without a single architect, the ungoverned and most densely populated district became a haven for drugs, crime and prostitution until it was demolished in 1993. A rare look inside the kowloon walled city from 1990. Kowloon walled city, once the most crowded place on earth. Your session will expire in 5 minutes, 0 seconds, due to inactivity.
In the 1990s, this burgeoning community was joined by even more thai people whose businesses had been displaced by redevelopment in. The walled city was a chinese enclave surrounded by the british territory of hong kong. Kowloon walled city park a beautiful little park to visit in hong kong, with its pavillions, ponds and flowers. City of darkness revisited is a photo book and cultural history of kowloon walled city, a largely ungoverned, densely populated enclave within hong kong. The kowloon walled city, a bizarre chapter of hong kong s colonial history, was demolished 25 years ago. The 10 best hong kong city centre hotels of 2020 with. The walled city is an adventure set in and around a fantasy location based on the authors impression of kowloon walled city in hong kong. Great premise with a fascinating setting that feels dystopian, but is actually based on a former real walled city in hong kong. Inside hong kongs lawless walled city the most crowded place on. Hong kongs kowloon walled city was the densest place on the planet before it was torn down 20 years ago. Hong kong book centre 25 des voeux road, on lok yuen building lower level, central, hong kong rated 2. Kowloon walled city park sits on the very site of the former kowloon walled city, remembered today as a haven of crime and debauchery. Originally a military fort, the walled city saw its population rise dramatically during the. Kowloon walled city was known for its interconnected highrises, and for becoming a crime haven that authorities were afraid to enter.
Ian lambot, another photographer, on a book about kowloon, titled city of. The lost kowloon walled city in hong kong as represented. Visit the garrison that became known for crime and debauchery at kowloon walled city park. Once the densest place on earth, the colourful, mazelike hotbed of of crime, grime, commerce and hope was torn down 20 years ago. Picture a colossal empire of little houses stacked on top of each other. The kowloon walled city had been a military stronghold since 15th century due to its coastal location and was a centre of vice and crime. View all attractions near city centre north center on tripadvisor. Pictures of kowloon walled city hong wrong hong kong.
Its population increased dramatically following the japanese occupation of hong kong during world war ii. A very good look from the inside of the walled city check it out and. Heres what western accounts of the kowloon walled city. The attraction occupies the site of the former kowloon walled city, a unique peninsula garrison that remained under chinas jurisdiction until hong kong was ceded to britain. This is ya fiction and the darker side of life is mentioned but never elaborated upon. Courtesy of city of darkness revisited this unique society and its complete neglect by the rest of hong kong was born of the equally unique political conditions of the kowloon site. This book is truly a fantastic compilation of the walled city s residents and their personal history which reflects china and hong kong s political and economic development as time went on. The kowloon walled city in hong kong was built graduallybuilding on top of buildingover time. The enclave, protected by a historical quirk from british rule in hong kong. So heres 11 facts about the worlds most densely populated place. Stunning photos of hong kongs kowloon walled city show. I just returned from hong kong i didnt get to the park as i just finished a good book about a ladies life as she lived in the walled city her name is jackie pullinger she lived there in the walled city, her book is called chasing the dragon, i am not trying to sell her book as i also met her and she is a christian as am i. This is a lost, illicit city filled to bursting with shady businessmen, drug dealers, junk shops, and.
The kowloon walled city was like a glitch in the urban fabric of hong kong. Hotels near kowloon walled city in hong kong, hong kong. In january 1987, the hong kong municipal government announced plans to. I had so many opportunities to buy this book in hong kong when it was published but i just never got around to it. By 1990, the walled city contained 50,000 residents. Not a single ray of light penetrates this fortress of hope and despair. Kowloon walled city park hong kong 2020 what to know. In 1841, when hong kong island was ceded to britain, kowloon walled city was already a garrison and was reinforced by the. When kowloon walled city was demolished in 1994, its 300 interconnected buildings were home to 50,000 people. The original edition of the book, city of darkness. City of darkness, a book which documented life inside the notorious kowloon walled city in hong kong during its peak in the late 1980s. In hong kong, shop owners had to get licenses from the labor, health, and. City of darkness revisited is a photo book and cultural history of kowloon walled city. It was restored in 1996 and is now found near the centre of the park.
Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary. Claimed by both hong kong and china but administered by neither, kowloon walled city also became a dystopian breeding ground for illegal activity. Updated and expanded new volume, picking up where city of darkness. Home artists exhibitions and events books shop venue hire about contact. Kowloon walled city photos from inside hong kong news.
Id just like to say how impressed i was, not only with the book but how well it was. Rare maps show life in hong kongs vicefilled walled city. Hong kong distinguishes itself from its chinese brethren like shanghai and beijing with its vibrant, multifaceted culture and stunning cityscape. But theres a lot more to the story behind the walled city. This lavishlyillustrated book centres on greg girards and ian lambots. This book describes kowloon walled city which is a district in hong kong. The site occupies a strategic point along the kowloon peninsula and has been used by chinese imperial officials since the 16 th century.
In 1993, the hong kong government officially slated kowloon walled city for demolition. Introduction to kowloon walled city park completed in august 1995, kowloon walled city park was officially opened on dec 22 at the same year. Kowloon walled city was an ungoverned, densely populated settlement in kowloon city, hong kong. It had its own laws, and many traffics took place there, it was the triads kingdom, and many refugees used to live inside. Ungoverned and unregulated, kowloon walled city was for so many years, a stain on the urban fabric of british colonial hong kong. City centre north center hong kong 2020 all you need. The life and death of an impossible city kickstarter. Hong kongs forgotten city of darkness messy nessy chic.
Originally a chinese military fort, the walled city became an enclave after the new territories were leased to the uk by china in 1898. It has now been over 20 years since the city was finally demolished and a fascinating and detailed infographic shows what life was like inside the city of darkness click to enlarge. Life in kowloon walled city, published in 1993, left off. It grew up organically, clearly constructed without the input of a. The background to the story with its undercurrent of gangs, brothels and threat of violence is well worked. In yemen, the historical centre of shibam is especially striking. The kowloon walled city in hong kong was once the densest place on earth, a virtually lawless labyrinth of crime, grime, commerce and hope. The kowloon walled city in hong kong looks like a beehive, with cramped quarters stacked haphazardly on top of one another. In the heart of hong kong, kowloon walled city seethes with human passions, both good and evil. Best time to visit kowloon walled city parkpreferred time.
Was really interesting to learn about its history, once being a self governed high rise shanty town houisng over 41,000 people, before its demolition in 1993. Infamous for drugs and prostitution, it was also home to factories, shops, restaurants. The kowloon walled city was a singular hong kong phenomenon. Rob frost captured remarkable footage inside the enclave in. Designed and edited by greg girard and ian lambot the team behind city of darkness. Cost about hkd 76 million, the kowloon walled city park of hong kong was designed into a south yangtze river garden in the features of early qing dynasty 16441911 plus with well maintained distinctive. But the writing is uneven and occasionally tries too hard to be descriptive without being convincing there are hands moving like hummingbirds and people darting like dragonflies, for example, and the plot and characters and relationships.
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