Have You Seen China’s Incredible “Lost” Kowloon Walled City? Here’s A True-Life Crime Oasis!

Kowloon walled city


Welcome To Paradise – Chinese Crime Style!

I love travel. I love to see unique places.  THIS IS SUCH A PLACE. Here is how this legendary city was described:

“It was one of the greatest unplanned wonders of the 20th century — a city of no taxes and no laws. A 6.9 acre cesspool of crime, trafficking, and unlicensed doctors that was once the most densely populated place on earth.”

Kowloon dentist office

Your Kowloon Dentist Will See You Now!

Yes, that is a Dentist’s office!

Welcome to Kowloon Walled City, an island of ill-repute just outside Hong Kong! It was a slice of criminal heaven that came to be after World War II, when the British and China were slicing up Hong Kong…but this area was overlooked, and became a crime-infested, mobster-controlled mecca!

China crime city

Kowloon had a population of 33,000 squeezed into the tiny lot – in fact, the city was 119 times denser at its peak than present-day New York City! Just look at this aerial shot!

The world’s most crowded city – how could it have been built to pack everyone in like sardines?

Here’s what it looked like inside:

I mean, that’s incredible!

I discovered this incredible city thanks to Writer William O’ Connell – who had a fascinating article in the Daily Beast a few years ago, remembering Kowloon’s sordid past – it’s a terrific piece that still exists here:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/26/the-lost-chinese-city-police-feared-to-enter.html

He tells the incredible story of Kowloon Walled City – and what a story it is!

the-lego-like-city-was-built-over-decades-as-residents-simply-stacked-rooms-one-on-top-of-another-the-end-result-looked-formidable-girard-tells-tech-insider-but-who-knows

“The Lego-like city was built over decades, as residents simply stacked rooms one on top of another. The end result “looked formidable,” Girard tells Tech Insider, “but who knows?”

That’s right: “Lego-like” apartments simply stacked one on top of another. This comes from Tech Insider, which also has a great memoir of the city – with tons of great photos like this:

Kowloon walled city Hong Kong

This incredible city was a den of crime – a city SO packed with buildings that the daytime looked like THIS:

Legendary Kowloon walled city

Canadian Photographer Greg Girard took these photos in the late 80’s and they are all in the Tech Insider report.

You can click here for more pics and stories!

http://www.techinsider.io/the-surreal-mania-of-chinas-kowloon-walled-city-2015-8

I love these iconic photos of a city now lost to time…as the article in The Daily Beast points out, the city was torn down in 1994 and replaced by new buildings and a park:

after-the-city-was-torn-down-in-1994-the-country-built-a-park-in-its-place-today-kowloon-park-attracts-photographers-birdwatchers-and-tourists-looking-for-a-relaxing-trip--with-plenty-of-room--through-scenic-hong-kong

Kowloon may be lost forever, but there are plenty of other stories about China – for example, we have all read stories about how crowded the country is…here is an example:

crowded great wall of china

A Great “Packed” Wall!

Based on when you go, the Great Wall of China is a traffic jam! Read more here:

The Chinese also love to build amazing things, like this glass bridge:

China glass bridge cracks

But you know happens to glass – it cracks! click here to see the cracks that formed in this bridge!

Even with public transportation, a very packed China is always crowded:

Passengers board a train at a subway station in Beijing

Click here to see the most amazing subway crowding of all time!

All of this said, I still really want to visit this country and explore their food, culture, and crowds!

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Kowloon walled city Hong Kong


Categories: China, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, Real Estate, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir

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15 replies

  1. What a ‘city’. The dentist looks a bit creepy. Really interesting, John.

    Like

  2. When I’m in the UK it feels totally overcrowded, China would be totally overwhelming for me. Our wide empty spaces is one of the reasons we haven’t left South Africa.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. wow, that seems surreal! I’d like to visit but not live there, or go to the dentist there.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Wow, it looks better now than it did then.

    Like

  5. Wow, this looks a bit like a dystopian film

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I really enjoyed your article and amazing photos:)

    Like

  7. It’s like something from Blade Runner, and I can’t imagine living there. But really interesting!

    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 2 people

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