See all facts

Did you know that the most densely populated place ever recorded on Earth was created essentially by accident?
Enter the remarkable Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong. In the aftermath of World War II, squatters began to occupy the Kowloon area, forming an anarchic, self-governing enclave that lasted till 1994. Despite covering just 6.4 acres, at its peak, an estimated 50,000 residents crammed into its 350 interconnected high-rise buildings, with a density of 1.25 million people per square kilometre. The city became a haven for crime, but also an unexpected example of self-organization, offering affordable housing and a thriving informal economy. Ironically, despite its lawless reputation, crime rates were low as residents self-policed their confounding urban maze. Eventually, both the British and Chinese governments agreed to demolish the unprecedented urban phenomenon, leaving only the city’s yamen and parts of its southern gate. Today, Kowloon Walled City remains a legendary city, a testament to human resilience and adaptability. @

Tags: #KowloonWalledCity #HongKong #History