Kowloon Walled City

The Kowloon Walled City was an urban "megablock" in Hong Kong, comprised of 500 buildings that housed approximately 50,000 residents. For decades, the walled city was the last vestige of Chinese territory in British Hong Kong before it was occupied by the Japanese during the Second World War. After the Japanese deserted Kowloon, it became a hotbed for illegal activity and was the site for brothels, casinos, opium dens, secret factories, unlicensed clinics and cocaine parlors.

• 960-1279: Song Dynasty used the area as a watch post
• Mid 1800s: Rebuilt as a fort
• 1842: Britain gains control of Hong Kong but allows the Chinese to keep troops at the fort
• 1899: Britain invades the Chinese fort, but finds it deserted
• 1890s to 1940: Remains under Chinese control and becomes a densely populated area
• 1940: Japanese troops invade and demolish much of the city
• 1945: Japanese leave, many squatters flood into the city
• 1949: China sends thousands of refugees to the city
• 1950-1973: Hong Kong organized crime syndicate controls the city
• 1974-1987: City continues to expand and act outside the law
• 1987: Officials decide to demolish the city
• 1991-1992: Residents are evacuated
• 1993:City is demolished
• 1995: Construction on Kowloon Walled City Park is completed

• Flickr: Walled City/ Kowloon Walled City Photos

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• GlobalPhotos.org: Kowloon Walled City Park

• YouTube Video: Kowloon Walled City (bloodsport) (Time 2:27)

• YouTube Video: Kowloon Walled City, Hong Kong (Time 9:06)