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earthpigg
February 27th, 2011, 09:14 PM
http://www.clusterflock.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/80klnwcity_figure12_large-580x409.jpg

I've never heard of this. It's fascinating. It sounds sort of like a real-life Trantor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trantor).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City


Kowloon Walled City was a densely populated, largely ungoverned settlement in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

...

In 1987, the Walled City contained 33,000 residents within its 6.5-acre (0.03 km2; 0.01 sq mi) borders. [say, 0.15 km by .2 km... two football fields by 1 and a half football fields, for us Amerians]

...

Beginning in the 1950s, Triad groups such as the 14K and Sun Yee On gained a stranglehold on the Walled City's countless brothels, gambling parlors, and opium dens. The Walled City had become such a haven for criminals that police would venture into it only in large groups. It was not until 1973–74, when a series of more than 3,500 police raids resulted in over 2,500 arrests and over 4,000 pounds of seized drugs, that the Triads' power began to wane. With public support, particularly from younger residents, the continued raids gradually eroded drug use and violent crime. In 1983, the police commander of the Kowloon City District declared the Walled City's crime rate to be under control.

...

The City also underwent massive construction during the 1960s and 1970s.[4] Eight municipal pipes provided water to the entire structure (although more could have come from wells).[5] A few of the streets were illuminated by fluorescent lights, as sunlight rarely reached the lower levels.[1] Although the rampant crime of earlier decades diminished in later years, the Walled City was still known for its high number of unlicensed doctors and dentists, who could operate there without threat of prosecution.

...

The City's rooftops were an important gathering place, especially for residents who lived on upper floors. Parents used them to relax, and children would play or do homework there after school.[29]

The Yamen in the heart of the City was also a major social centre, a place for residents to talk, have tea or watch television, and to take classes such as calligraphy.



German Documentary, English Subs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lby9P3ms11w



Has anyone here been there, prior to it's destruction?

JDShu
February 27th, 2011, 09:29 PM
I've only been to the new city park, kinda wish I had been more familiar with the city when I was younger :/

Nowadays, the shady business is in Chungking Mansions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chungking_Mansions).

Naiki Muliaina
February 27th, 2011, 10:11 PM
For anyone who can appreciate it, a guy in Second Life, owner of Jet Graphics, has an utterly incredible and awesome build of Kowloon. It looks far better when there and exploring it, it has a real cramped and dark feel. These pics don't do it justice.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/3027710480_84291d8ec9_z.jpg?zz=1

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/3027709956_0182b466ae_z.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/3027710066_691333f394_z.jpg?zz=1

smellyman
February 28th, 2011, 12:43 AM
Those shops look like shops of today...:) j/k

That's where bloodsport took place.

Hong Kong is so hot and humid I couldn't imagine working in those shops deep within the walled city.