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The origins of Kowloon Walled City trace back to the Song Dynasty (960–1279) when the area was first established as a military outpost to manage the salt trade. In 1668, under the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese government built a small fort to defend against foreign invasions and protect the coastline. After the First Opium War (1839–1842), Britain took control of Hong Kong Island, and in 1847, the Qing government reinforced the Walled City with a stronger garrison, an administrative office, and a wall, giving it its name. In 1898, the British leased the New Territories, including the Walled City, for 99 years under the Second Convention of Peking. While Britain controlled the surrounding areas, China still technically held sovereignty over the Walled City. The British attempted to remove the Chinese garrison in 1899, but after facing local resistance, they largely abandoned efforts to govern the area. Over time, the Walled City remained a political anomaly—claimed by China but left largely...

Kowloon Walled City was a densely populated, largely ungoverned settlement in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Originally a military outpost, the site became a Chinese enclave after the New Territories were leased to Britain in 1898. Over the years, the Walled City developed into a high-rise, overcrowded, and chaotic urban settlement. At its peak in the 1950s and 1960s, Kowloon Walled City housed around 30,000 to 50,000 residents within its 6.4-acre area, making it one of the most densely populated places on Earth. The architecture of the Walled City was characterized by cramped, interconnected high-rise buildings. The structures were constructed without formal urban planning, leading to a maze-like layout with narrow alleyways and staircases. Due to a historical oversight, the Walled City fell into a legal gray area with no clear jurisdiction. This lack of oversight contributed to the unregulated growth of the settlement. Despite its chaotic appearance, Kowloon Walled City had a unique system of s...