The Densest City on Earth
The Densest City on Earth
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A closer look at Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong, the most densely populated place that ever existed.
Images via Getty, AP Newsroom
Map source by MapTiler / OpenStreetMap Contributors via Geolayers 3
Additional music by:
https://www.youtube.com/@frgtn
honestly, its a miracle that the whole thing didnt go up in flames at some point, you’d think a massive fire would have started from something be it a lantern or the heavy industry that happened in there.
I think this is the result of close-tightly knit community established by the residents as mentioned in the video. It only clearly testifies that the community looked chaotic, but it wasn’t
That’s what I was thinking although there was always a ton of leaking water everywhere.
Well, at any time you would have to use an umbrella at floor level due to all the leaking pipes and air conditioning. Probably the high humidity contributed. I imagine MASSIVE troubles with mold tho
@John Joshua AquinoThe whole damn city was on fire watch if anyone started welding lol
Also the electric wire work. There’s a reason why we have all this code and electricians need certification.
I grew up in Hong Kong and this video explained the Kowloon Wall City better than most of the local documentaries
Ok small eyes
@John DoeOk random online troll
Have you been to the city?
Neo makes some seriously quality videos. He’s definitely one of the best.
should’ve tried growing down instead of growing up man
Great documentary. My father grew up in HK, but worked in Kowloon, delivering propane tanks and 50-lb rice bags up 10+ flights of stairs to its residents, for 20+ years
my god….ur dad worked like a madman.
Props to him.. id never be able to do that so long
You might want to specify Kowloon Walled City if that’s what you meant as Kowloon refeers to the area north of Hong Kong Island and is home to some 25-30% of Hong Kong’s population.
Your father sold propane and propane accessories then.
@Señor Guina-sold- delivered
His calves and thighs must have been quite a sight.
Back in the day (I’m a HongKonger) Kowloon city was kind of an unspoken failure in our city. We never talked about it but everyone knew what it was about and what it was like. We didn’t teach it at school and not even the parents would want to talk about it. I’m glad people of the west get to know this story as I truly think it was a feat humans would never be able to achieve ever again 😂.
I remember asking our teacher what was in the city and he told us it was a crammed isolated waste with very poor governing, it was literally like a place without rules. The teacher told us about how people from the mafia would set their base there just because there wasn’t anyone controlling the city. I was fascinated by those stories but sadly not much concrete information is known of the city.
Edit: I see many people in the comments saying the city is cool but you’d be wrong, though there was some kind of “order” the entire city was just a mess
The first rule to Kowloon city is you do not talk about Kowloon city
It’s brief history was taught in EPA(?) classes when I was in school. Maybe that part was removed later?
Well, most of the concrete was removed after all. 😅
but did u ever visit Kowloon?
@FEELING HEALING ofc no, no one I know has ever been in it. And for good reason, it’s super dangerous and not fun to go in
since i subscribed i’ve been hoping yall would make a video on this!!! what a treat!!!
hey benoftheweek!
Nice
ok
Ayy benoftheweek
Always been fascinated by Kowloon Walled City. Dystopian sci-fi material that actually existed. Great vid, thanks
Yes, the game Stray took inspiration from this. That’s how I discovered it actually.
I can imagine how it has served as inspiration. Watching the movie Elysium there’s similarities between KWC and future Los Angeles
Dredd was how I discovered the Kowloon Walled City. Fascinating setting, fascinating place
Dredd is another great example. Huge yet claustrophobic city blocks, everything worn down and an underlying squalor filled with people just trying to make it day to day
@Patrick Chang Dredd as in judge Dredd? that very old movie?
i should probably watch it..
A lot of video games in the ’90s were inspired by Kowloon Walled City. It really makes me wonder if any other such place will come into being in the distant future.
Can you care to name a few of those games? im curious
@heyjeySigma The latest Shadowrun (Hong Kong) but this is not a 90s game.
@heyjeySigma Let’s see, on the more overt side, there was Kowloon’s Gate and more subtly, I think there were a few parts of Midgar in FF7 that blenderized it with aspects of NYC and Kabukicho. Also, up until 2019, there was a famous arcade called Cyber Kowloon Walled City that was part of the now closed Warehouse Kawasaki that was styled after it.
They’re trying to redo it in Dubai lol.
Shenmue 2 has a big part in it
I used to have a profound fascination for this place, and for a while I kept reading lots about it and looking for photos everywhere. I wish I had the chance to visit before it was demolished.
Thank you for bringing such an interesting topic to your channel.
Same like a pilgrimage to cyberpunk and anarchism.
Just book a stay in chunking mansions, its kowloon lite
The more I learn about the place the more I started thinking it would be the perfect setting for a Yakuza style game where you can explore the city. Apparently the game Stray had a futuristic setting inspired by the city, but I’d prefer a game where you control a human character instead of a cat.
@Dilan Rajapaksha Batman Arkham City has a similair vibe
I was born and lived in Hong Kong up until I was in grade 6. I remember going on a field trip to this park and seeing this model and being fascinated by it; I have a picture of it somewheres; 9 years later I’m pursing a degree in urban planning and just as equally fascinated by it. Thank you for all of your content, your videos are the best
hearing stories from my father about living here. He said a lot of the news you hear about the walled city is true, but at the same time he spoke about the immense sense of safety and community he felt while growing up there. Something he said he never felt while living in the states. or at least he said he felt a different version of safety and community. He spoke about how the media views the traids negatively, but while living there they felt like big brothers taking care and protecting their own people