Before its demolition in 1993, Kowloon Walled City was the world’s most densely populated settlement. An ungoverned 6.5 acre tract on the edge of Hong Kong, it was home to 33,000 souls—which comes out to an eye-popping population density of 3,249,000/sq mi.
Kowloon Walled City’s “streets” were passageways only a meter or two wide, and one could follow a network of staircases and passageways from one end to the other without touching ground. It was, in short, one of the wonders of the modern world. Like those of the ancient, it’s lost and gone, but (unlike those) we have video:
Another document of the city’s life can be found in the remarkable images of Canadian photographer Greg Girard.
August 10th, 2012 | 4:40 pm
Wow. I guess people can get used to almost anything.
August 12th, 2012 | 6:20 pm
If I read correctly, it’s not 33,000 souls – it’s 33,000 families.
Don’t know if that’s a mistake, but if it’s not, it’s absolutely mind-boggling.
August 14th, 2012 | 6:29 am
The late Fr. Mike McKiernan, MM, was fond of taking guests on tours through the place. It was an education. In a way, I was sorry to see it go, since, under pressure from the real-estate market, which can scarcely abide anything with any kind of sui generis character or insufficient profitability, Hong Kong has become largely bland and soulless.
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