I first went to Kowloon in June, 1967 and last time in 1992.
It was a fascinating place for shopping but also “other “ activities.
I especially enjoyed a window view as the plane came in too land between the buildings with laundry stuck out of porches and windows to use solar energy to dry their wash of the tenements. The plane flew so close you could look in and watch people.
There’s a big push now to reduce human CO2 emissions. The Kowloon residents represented what is necessary to do so per capita.
Those in rural towns and suburbs s in the US represent a lifestyle of producing the maximum CO2 per resident regardless if the drive an electric car or not, my experience is they won’t even use solar energy to dry their wash.
We were just talking about Kowloon Walled City, too! After finishing playing the video game “Stray” which took us up and up and up through dystopian city strata-- love this!
Fascinating! I kept staring at photos trying to imagine how many people live in there and also their daily routine... Looks a bit like a human version of ant universe...
Developments like KWC have always made me think of bee colonies. Dense, dynamic, complex organisms in their own right - constantly evolving, until they don’t.
Nice bit of history, thank you.
I first went to Kowloon in June, 1967 and last time in 1992.
It was a fascinating place for shopping but also “other “ activities.
I especially enjoyed a window view as the plane came in too land between the buildings with laundry stuck out of porches and windows to use solar energy to dry their wash of the tenements. The plane flew so close you could look in and watch people.
There’s a big push now to reduce human CO2 emissions. The Kowloon residents represented what is necessary to do so per capita.
Those in rural towns and suburbs s in the US represent a lifestyle of producing the maximum CO2 per resident regardless if the drive an electric car or not, my experience is they won’t even use solar energy to dry their wash.
Great focus! I was just recording a podcast where I talk about KWC. Great minds think alike 🤩 It’s a fascinating place in HK history.
Haha aces!
I’ll link to your post. ⭐️
We were just talking about Kowloon Walled City, too! After finishing playing the video game “Stray” which took us up and up and up through dystopian city strata-- love this!
Stray is amazing, I might of written a follow up essay along these lines...
!!! 🤩
Lookout for something next week 🐈
I didn't know all of this, thanks for sharing! The images add poignancy to this story.
Fascinating! I kept staring at photos trying to imagine how many people live in there and also their daily routine... Looks a bit like a human version of ant universe...
I hate to think how many people were all crushed into such a small space. You’re right, it’s is like an ant colony
Ah yes, "colony" was the word I had in might. It's much more gloomier than universe.
So so interesting Thanks for sharing!
That’s so kind of you, thank you for saying so abs for reading 💕
This image terrifies me and reminds me of the abandoned Naval Base in the Bywater of New Orleans where squatters rule.
Developments like KWC have always made me think of bee colonies. Dense, dynamic, complex organisms in their own right - constantly evolving, until they don’t.
Fabulous. The textured history and structures. Looks pretty impossible to flatten in any complete sense.
I had never heard of this - thanks for writing about it 🤓
Thank you for reading 🤩
Whoah, what a place. That aerial shot is wild. I'd seen photos of this before, but wasn't aware of the history. Thanks for the great read.
It's also home to, in my opinion, the greatest photograph of Hong Kong ever taken: https://theface.com/culture/greg-girard-the-kowloon-walled-city-hong-kong-photography (main image).
That's an incredible shot. Wow.
So glad you enjoyed lovely 🥰