The walled city was located in what is known as the Kowloon City area of ​​Kowloon. Despite its transformation from a military fort to an urban enclave, the walled city retained the same basic design. The original fort was built on a slope[24] and consisted of a 2.6 hectare plot measuring approximately 210 by 120 metres. The stone wall that surrounded it had four entrances and measured 4 meters high by 4.6 meters thick before being dismantled in 1943.[4][25]​.

Construction increased dramatically during the 1960s and 1970s, until the ancient low-rise city consisted almost entirely of buildings of 10 stories or more (with the notable exception of the yamen in its center).[11]​[16]​ However, due to the position of Kai Tak Airport 800 meters south of the city, buildings did not exceed 14 stories.[26]​ The two-story Sai Tau Tsuen settlement It bordered the walled city to the south and west until it was cleared in 1985 and replaced by Carpenter Road Park.[27][28]

The city's dozens of alleys were often only one or two meters wide and had little light or drainage.[29] An informal network of stairs and passageways also formed on the upper levels, which was so extensive that one could travel from north to south throughout the city without touching land.[11] Construction in the city was unregulated, and most of the approximately 350 buildings were built with poor foundations and few or no public services.[30] Apartments were very small—a typical unit was 23 m²—space was maximized with larger upper floors, caged balconies, and rooftop additions.[14][16][31] Rooftops in the city were filled with television antennas, clotheslines, water tanks, and trash, and could be crossed using a series of ladders.[32][33]​.

The initial population of Kowloon Walled City fluctuated between zero and a few hundred, and began to grow steadily shortly after World War II. However, no precise population information is available for much of the walled city's later existence. Official "Census (statistics)") census figures estimated the walled city's population at 10,004 in 1971 and 14,617 in 1981, but these figures were commonly considered too low. Informal estimates, on the other hand, often wrongly included the neighboring squatter village of Sai Tau Tsuen.[29][34] Population figures of approximately 50,000 were also reported.[15]​.

A comprehensive government survey in 1987 gave a clearer picture: it was estimated that 33,000 people resided within the walled city. According to this survey, the walled city had a population density of approximately 1,255,000 inhabitants per square kilometer in 1987,[16]​ making it the most densely populated place in the world.[35]​.

Contrary to what many who did not know the area believed, most residents of the walled city behaved similarly to other natives of Hong Kong.[36]​ In response to the difficult living conditions, residents formed a close-knit community, helping each other endure various hardships.[37]​ Within families, wives often did the cleaning, while grandmothers looked after their grandchildren and other children in the houses. The city's rooftops were an important gathering place, especially for residents living on the upper floors. Parents used them to relax and children played or did homework there after school.[39]​.

The yamen was the heart of the city and was also an important social center, a place for residents to talk, drink tea or watch television, and take calligraphy classes. The Old People's Center also held religious meetings for Christians and other denominations.[40] Other religious institutions included the temples of Fuk Tak and Tin Hau, which were used for a combination of Buddhist, Taoist and animist practices.[41]

The area where the walled city once stood is now the Kowloon Walled City Park, adjacent to Carpenter Road Park.[42] The 31,000 m² park was completed in August 1995 and handed over to the Urban Council. It was officially opened by Governor Chris Patten a few months later, on December 22.[43]​ The construction of the park cost a total of HK$76 million.[23]​.

The park's design is based on the Jiangnan Gardens of the Qing Dynasty. It is divided into eight landscape features,[23]​ with the completely restored yamen as its centerpiece. The park's paths and pavilions are named after the streets and buildings of the walled city. Artifacts from the walled city, such as five inscribed stones and three ancient wells, are also displayed in the park. The park was designed by the Department of Architectural Services, which won a "prestigious award" from the German Central Horticultural Society for the redevelopment.

The elements that make up the park are: the eight flower walks, each named after a different plant or flower; walled), a 300 m² garden with plants symbolizing the four seasons;[49]​ The Six Arts Terrace, a 600 m² wedding area containing a garden and the Bamboo Pavilion;[42]​ the Kuixing pavilion, which includes a moon gate framed by two stone tablets and the imposing Guibi Rock, which represents Hong Kong's return to China;[50]​ the Mountain View Pavilion, a two-story structure resembling a docked ship that offers a good view of the entire park;[42]​[51]​ the Lung Tsun, Yuk Tong, and Lung Nam pavilions,[52]​; as well as the yamen building and the south gate.

The Bureau of Antiquities and Monuments conducted archaeological examinations while the walled city was demolished, and various cultural remains were discovered.[53]​ Among them were the yamen of the walled city and the remains of its south gate, which were officially declared Hong Kong monuments on October 4, 1996.[54]​.

The south gate had originally served as the main entrance to the walled city. Along with its foundation, other remains include two stone plaques inscribed "South Gate" and "Kowloon Walled City" from the south gate and a flagstone road that led there. The foundations of the city wall and the east gate were also discovered.[23]​ The Hong Kong government preserved the remains of the south gate next to a plaza in front of the yamen.[55]​.

The yamen building is made up of three rooms. Originally, the middle room served the administrative office of the Kowloon assistant magistrate, and the back block was his residence. After government officials abandoned the area in 1899, it was used for several other purposes, including a home for the elderly, a shelter for widows and orphans, a school, and a clinic. It was restored in 1996 and now stands near the center of the park.[56] It contains a photo gallery of the walled city, and two cannons dating from 1802 sit at the sides of its entrance.[44]

Jean-Claude Van Damme filmed the film Bloodsport in the Kowloon Walled City in the late 1980s.

The first-person video game Call of Duty: Black Ops has a level set in this place in the late 1960s, during the Cold War era.

The Dreamcast video game Shenmue 2 has a level (Disc 3) that recreates this city.

The video game Digimon Story: Cyber ​​Sleuth has among the many areas of the virtual world known as Eden, a lawless place populated by hackers known as Kowloon.

The video game Sense: A Cyberpunk Ghost Story bases its story in an apartment complex in the walled city.

The video game Stray "Stray (video game)") was inspired by the architecture of this city for one of its main scenarios.

Britney Spears' music video, I'm a slave 4 u"), is set in a recreation of the city.

The anime Ghost in the shell was inspired by this city for many of its backgrounds.

The video game Slitterhead also took as reference the architecture and landscapes of the "Walled City".

The manga and anime Kowloon Generic Romance takes place in the walled city after it is demolished, reviving it through science fiction in a dystopian world.

The film The City of Warriors (2024) is an action, revenge and relative history film about the walled city and the two clans that disputed for decades until the end of the 80s.

Sources

• - Video about Kowloon Walled City on YouTube.

• - Article: ""Anarchy City", the urban hole where 50,000 people lived without seeing the light of the sun."

The walled city was located in what is known as the Kowloon City area of ​​Kowloon. Despite its transformation from a military fort to an urban enclave, the walled city retained the same basic design. The original fort was built on a slope[24] and consisted of a 2.6 hectare plot measuring approximately 210 by 120 metres. The stone wall that surrounded it had four entrances and measured 4 meters high by 4.6 meters thick before being dismantled in 1943.[4][25]​.

Construction increased dramatically during the 1960s and 1970s, until the ancient low-rise city consisted almost entirely of buildings of 10 stories or more (with the notable exception of the yamen in its center).[11]​[16]​ However, due to the position of Kai Tak Airport 800 meters south of the city, buildings did not exceed 14 stories.[26]​ The two-story Sai Tau Tsuen settlement It bordered the walled city to the south and west until it was cleared in 1985 and replaced by Carpenter Road Park.[27][28]

The city's dozens of alleys were often only one or two meters wide and had little light or drainage.[29] An informal network of stairs and passageways also formed on the upper levels, which was so extensive that one could travel from north to south throughout the city without touching land.[11] Construction in the city was unregulated, and most of the approximately 350 buildings were built with poor foundations and few or no public services.[30] Apartments were very small—a typical unit was 23 m²—space was maximized with larger upper floors, caged balconies, and rooftop additions.[14][16][31] Rooftops in the city were filled with television antennas, clotheslines, water tanks, and trash, and could be crossed using a series of ladders.[32][33]​.

The initial population of Kowloon Walled City fluctuated between zero and a few hundred, and began to grow steadily shortly after World War II. However, no precise population information is available for much of the walled city's later existence. Official "Census (statistics)") census figures estimated the walled city's population at 10,004 in 1971 and 14,617 in 1981, but these figures were commonly considered too low. Informal estimates, on the other hand, often wrongly included the neighboring squatter village of Sai Tau Tsuen.[29][34] Population figures of approximately 50,000 were also reported.[15]​.

A comprehensive government survey in 1987 gave a clearer picture: it was estimated that 33,000 people resided within the walled city. According to this survey, the walled city had a population density of approximately 1,255,000 inhabitants per square kilometer in 1987,[16]​ making it the most densely populated place in the world.[35]​.

Contrary to what many who did not know the area believed, most residents of the walled city behaved similarly to other natives of Hong Kong.[36]​ In response to the difficult living conditions, residents formed a close-knit community, helping each other endure various hardships.[37]​ Within families, wives often did the cleaning, while grandmothers looked after their grandchildren and other children in the houses. The city's rooftops were an important gathering place, especially for residents living on the upper floors. Parents used them to relax and children played or did homework there after school.[39]​.

The yamen was the heart of the city and was also an important social center, a place for residents to talk, drink tea or watch television, and take calligraphy classes. The Old People's Center also held religious meetings for Christians and other denominations.[40] Other religious institutions included the temples of Fuk Tak and Tin Hau, which were used for a combination of Buddhist, Taoist and animist practices.[41]

The area where the walled city once stood is now the Kowloon Walled City Park, adjacent to Carpenter Road Park.[42] The 31,000 m² park was completed in August 1995 and handed over to the Urban Council. It was officially opened by Governor Chris Patten a few months later, on December 22.[43]​ The construction of the park cost a total of HK$76 million.[23]​.

The park's design is based on the Jiangnan Gardens of the Qing Dynasty. It is divided into eight landscape features,[23]​ with the completely restored yamen as its centerpiece. The park's paths and pavilions are named after the streets and buildings of the walled city. Artifacts from the walled city, such as five inscribed stones and three ancient wells, are also displayed in the park. The park was designed by the Department of Architectural Services, which won a "prestigious award" from the German Central Horticultural Society for the redevelopment.

The elements that make up the park are: the eight flower walks, each named after a different plant or flower; walled), a 300 m² garden with plants symbolizing the four seasons;[49]​ The Six Arts Terrace, a 600 m² wedding area containing a garden and the Bamboo Pavilion;[42]​ the Kuixing pavilion, which includes a moon gate framed by two stone tablets and the imposing Guibi Rock, which represents Hong Kong's return to China;[50]​ the Mountain View Pavilion, a two-story structure resembling a docked ship that offers a good view of the entire park;[42]​[51]​ the Lung Tsun, Yuk Tong, and Lung Nam pavilions,[52]​; as well as the yamen building and the south gate.

The Bureau of Antiquities and Monuments conducted archaeological examinations while the walled city was demolished, and various cultural remains were discovered.[53]​ Among them were the yamen of the walled city and the remains of its south gate, which were officially declared Hong Kong monuments on October 4, 1996.[54]​.

The south gate had originally served as the main entrance to the walled city. Along with its foundation, other remains include two stone plaques inscribed "South Gate" and "Kowloon Walled City" from the south gate and a flagstone road that led there. The foundations of the city wall and the east gate were also discovered.[23]​ The Hong Kong government preserved the remains of the south gate next to a plaza in front of the yamen.[55]​.

The yamen building is made up of three rooms. Originally, the middle room served the administrative office of the Kowloon assistant magistrate, and the back block was his residence. After government officials abandoned the area in 1899, it was used for several other purposes, including a home for the elderly, a shelter for widows and orphans, a school, and a clinic. It was restored in 1996 and now stands near the center of the park.[56] It contains a photo gallery of the walled city, and two cannons dating from 1802 sit at the sides of its entrance.[44]

Jean-Claude Van Damme filmed the film Bloodsport in the Kowloon Walled City in the late 1980s.

The first-person video game Call of Duty: Black Ops has a level set in this place in the late 1960s, during the Cold War era.

The Dreamcast video game Shenmue 2 has a level (Disc 3) that recreates this city.

The video game Digimon Story: Cyber ​​Sleuth has among the many areas of the virtual world known as Eden, a lawless place populated by hackers known as Kowloon.

The video game Sense: A Cyberpunk Ghost Story bases its story in an apartment complex in the walled city.

The video game Stray "Stray (video game)") was inspired by the architecture of this city for one of its main scenarios.

Britney Spears' music video, I'm a slave 4 u"), is set in a recreation of the city.

The anime Ghost in the shell was inspired by this city for many of its backgrounds.

The video game Slitterhead also took as reference the architecture and landscapes of the "Walled City".

The manga and anime Kowloon Generic Romance takes place in the walled city after it is demolished, reviving it through science fiction in a dystopian world.

The film The City of Warriors (2024) is an action, revenge and relative history film about the walled city and the two clans that disputed for decades until the end of the 80s.

Sources

• - Video about Kowloon Walled City on YouTube.

• - Article: ""Anarchy City", the urban hole where 50,000 people lived without seeing the light of the sun."