Kowloon Walled City – The Most Densely Populated City Until 1992
Jul 7 2012
During
its final years, Kowloon Walled City became the most densely populated
place on earth with 50,000 people crammed into a few city blocks.
Experience the city with two Canadian photographers Greg Girard and Ian Lamboth before it was demolished in 1992.
It was calculated that the city had 33,000 families
living inside of the 300 interconnected high-rise buildings (if they can
be called that since they have been constructed without any
contributions of architects).
At night the massive structure of Kowloon Walled City
lights up and looks like something you would see in a different
desolate world.
Many residents use the rooftops for the only sunlight
in their homes. Many of these living places are in the middle of the
structure with zero natural light.
The streets inside buzz at all hours of the day with
hundreds of citizens managing businesses, and living their lives with
their families.
The poor construction techniques and low upkeep is
visible almost everywhere in this mini metropolis. Mir Lui was assigned
to work inside of the city as a post man in 1976 as he is one of the few
people who knew the massively complicated hallway structure inside (he
wears a hat because everything is leaking).
A convenience store that sells essentials like toilet paper, cigarettes and canned foods.
A grocery store owner Chan Pak (aged 60) has a passion for cats – he had seven at the time of this photo.
Law Yu Yi (aged 90) living in a tiny third-floor flat
with her son's 68-year-old wife. A typical arrangement of a traditional
family.
Food processors admitted that they picked to live in
the city to avoid jurisdiction of the government's health and sanitation
inspectors. They also benefited from the low rent fees.
Kids playing outside on the rooftops where low flying jets come in to land at the Kai Tak Airport.
A noodle business is a work place during the day and
in the evening when Hui Tung Choy's wife and two daughters play and do
homework on the flour-encrusted work bench.
Despite many drug problems at the city, many managed to live normal lives.
Workers at the fish processing shop where little to none sanitary rules were followed.
Tin Hau Temple that was built in 1951 was
encapsulated inside of Kowloon's Massive structure. Barely any light
penetrates the facades above.
A good view to see the crooked poorly built structure of Kowloon Walled City.
In 1992 the government of China spent around 2.7
billion Hong Kong dollars in compensation to the estimated 33,000
families and businesses. Some were not satisfied and tried to stop the
evacuations.
Adolfo Arranz
– a sketcher/graphic artist (and a freelancer too) at South China
Morning Post – summarizes Kowloon City in a beautiful infographic (that
he actually got a gold medal for).
