Kowloon Walled City Park — Attraction in Hong Kong

The Kowloon Walled City is an interesting (free) attraction that is the location of two interesting eras of local history. While not normally regarded as an an important attraction in Hong Kong, it does make for nice place to visit for those that have made the rounds and are looking for other interesting places to see during their time in the city. History buffs or those with historical ties to Hong Kong will greatly appreciate the Kowloon Walled City Park.

During much of the 20th century, the Walled City previously located here was beyond the reach of the law and fostering all manner of illicit and illegal activities ranging from drug trafficking, prostitution to unlicensed dentistry. After WWII, the population of the Walled City expanded rapidly with unlicensed and unauthorised high-rise buildings put up to accommodate its residents. Imagines of the old Walled City during these decades are legendary, showing shoddy building structures, tight quarters and the dark and narrow alleyways that weaved like a labyrinth through the old city.

After decades of neglect and misuse, the Hong Kong authorities announced plans to evict the residents of the Walled City and demolish the city in 1987. The demolition finally occurred in 1993-1994. At the time of the evictions, there were 33,000 people living in over 500 buildings, many as high as 16 stories, crammed into Walled City. It was reported that only 3 operating lifts existed within the city at the time of demolition.

After the area was demolished, it was quickly converted into the Kowloon Walled City Park and opened to the public in 1995. The garden was laid out in a Jiangnan garden style of the early Qing Dynasty and shows few traces of the original fortified garrison or the shanty-city which occupied this space just 20 years ago. Instead, there are pavilions, foot paths, small ponds and streams and well-kept garden areas. It is a tranquil environment, a stark contrast to what would have been seen and experienced here in the past.

There do remain a few historical markers of the old Walled City that you can see. The foundations of the South Gate to the city is exposed and available for you to see. Also, original signs of the old fort, written in Chinese characters, were unearthed during the demolition and are on display near the Old South Gate.

Further, the Yamen building, being the only surviving structure from the Fortified garrison of the 19th century, remains in tact and is used as an exhibition area. Here you can find information about the history of the Kowloon Walled City through the decades as well as 4 exhibition rooms, which offer some experiences of the people that would have lived and worked in the Walled City in the years preceding its demolition.

Overall, the Kowloon Walled City Park is a nice area with a historically rich past. Unfortunately, its location is not particularly convenient, making it somewhat difficult to combine with other attractions in Kowloon. However, it's an intriguing place and worth consideration, particularly for those having been to HK before and looking for lesser known places around the...

Kowloon Walled City Park is a highly sought-after destination for tourists and locals alike in Hong Kong. Situated in the heart of the city, this former walled city gives a unique glimpse into the city’s past and an opportunity to immerse oneself in the culture and heritage of Hong Kong. Not only is Kowloon Walled City Park a worthwhile tourist spot with an encompassing view of Hong Kong’s extensive cityscape, but it is also an excellent place for leisure, relaxation and recreation.

To begin with, the park features a wealth of vivid flora and fauna as well as a rich history that is reflected through its heritage streets and buildings. This provides visitors to the park with the possibility of indulging in an unusual and unique experience. The open-air setting of the park also allows for a wide range of exercises such as running, jogging, tai chi and kung-fu classes forming two oval-shaped paths down the length of the park. Sri Lankan juniper bushes are also planted throughout the park augmenting the atmosphere with a hint of the Orient.

Apart from the pleasure of just being surrounded with the park’s various features, tourists can also make use of the various facilities and free attractions. These include the Hong Kong Parkview Observatory offering captivating views of the cityscape; the Millennium Clock Tower with its exquisite design; the Lumiere Garden of Lights; and Guangzhou Street which exhibits a fine collection of original buildings from the walled city. Furthermore, due to the park’s close proximity to the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, guests can also enjoy a day at the beach whilst soaking up the same spectacular view of Hong Kong’s skyline. It thus goes without saying that the Kowloon Walled City Park is the perfect destination for a day of leisure and discovery.

Finally, Kowloon Walled City Park also serves a mission of preserving and promoting the city’s culture and traditions. The annual Chinese Lunar New Year Festival at the park has become a very popular event with numerous stalls that specialize in lion dances and folk songs as well as a variety of food stalls. Additionally, the park also serves as a learning centre attached with an extensive research library catering to educational tours and learning activities. All these make Kowloon Walled City Park not only an ideal destination for tourists of different ages, but also serves as an important site for preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Hong Kong.

In conclusion, Kowloon Walled City Park’s long-standing and fascinating history together with its plentiful features and facilities make it a terrific place to visit. With free attractions and recreational activities, the park has something for everyone, be it for a day of leisure, exploration or relaxation. Above all, it is Kowloon Walled City Park’s purpose to preserve and promote the city’s culture and traditions that makes it a very special destination that...

It's like a warm, quiet hug in the middle of a crazy city. While today it's a peaceful enclave in the middle of Tokyo, it was once one of the most densely populated place on earth. ON EARTH. It contained 50,000 people in just 6 acres. And boy, was it crazy in there.

If you look learning more about a place's mysteries, legends and lores look no further than Kowloon Walled City Park. To be clear, there is no longer a city here as it was demolished in the 1990s due to organized crime, sex trafficking, drugs and other illicit activities. There are some exhibit areas with English translations, so be sure to spend time reading more about the area's unusual history.

The best part of our experience in the Kowloon Walled City Park is Uncle Man (yes, that's his real name), a longtime volunteer at the park who is obsessed with the art of paper tearing. Uncle Man will lovingly create anything your heart desires and can even do silhouette portraits. A true performance artist. He also plays the flute (well, of course he does) and likes to play traditional Chinese tunes for visitors.

There's really no place quite like it!

Pro Tips: Do the extra research (ah hem, Wikipedia) to learn more about Kowloon Walled City Park, because it's truly worth a visit in Hong Kong Look for an elder gentleman called Uncle Man to show you the art of paper tearing...he can create just about anything! Take the Subway (Lok Fu) for easier access Spend about 45 minutes here, more if you...