Kowloon City has evolved from an industrial district into a residential area.
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Kai Tak Airport was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998.
With numerous skyscrapers and mountains located to the north and its only runway jutting out
into Victoria Harbour, landings at the airport were infamously difficult.
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| Kai Tak old airport |
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This district historically had height restrictions on its buildings due to the old airport presence. Recently with height restrictions removed due to their airport move to Lantau island, large new luxury apartment complexes have been going up in the neighborhood.
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Kai Tak old airport was closed in 1998 and the Hong Kong international Airport has moved to
Chek Lap Kok on Lantau island.
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| Kai Tak old airport |
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Kai Tak old airport has remained idle during many years. Some parts were used as automobile showrooms, kart racing circuit...
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The Hong Kong Government had now planned to build a new cruise terminal at Kai Tak.
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| Kai Tak old airport |
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In year 2013, passengers disembarked at Kai Tak for the first time in 15 years after a cruise ship berthed at the terminal built on the site of the city's former airport.
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Kowloon City still includes a few pre-war shophouses.
Shophouses combined commercial and residential space vertically.
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| Kowloon City |
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Pawn shops can be found in some old districts such as Kowloon city
and the Western district.
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| Kowloon City pawnshop |
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Kowloon City features a busy wet market where traditional Chinese food and goods
can be purchased.
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| Kowloon City market |
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This temple is closed to Lok Fu Centre, which is the largest commercial shopping centre
under the Housing Authority.
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| Lok Fu Temple |
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Kowloon City offers densely packed streets that are always very active and exciting.
This building does no longer exist.
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| Kowloon City street |
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This old building is on opposite side of Hau Wong Temple
in Kowloon city.
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| Kowloon City |
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There are several temples dedicated to Hau Wong in Hong Kong.
It is right opposite the Kowloon Walled City Park.
This Hau Wong Temple was built around 1730.
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| Hau Wong Temple |
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Kowloon City district is pretty old. Recently Kowloon City has more than 1000 buildings
aged 50 years or above.
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| Kowloon City |
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As many buildings are redeveloped, there is a need for preservation, revitalisation
and promotion of historic sites and buildings in Kowloon City District. One of them is
Lung Tsun Stone Bridge.
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| Kowloon City |
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With the plan to energise Kowloon East, old buildings value in Kowloon
City has increased.
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| Kowloon City |
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Still a few post-war four-storey historical shop houses can be seen on some
Kowloon City narrow streets.
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| Kowloon City |
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| Kowloon Walled City Park |
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In 1899, however, British troops were sent to take over the City, and the Qing officials and soldiers were expelled. The resultant vacuum of civil order from 1899 laid the seeds for the eventual deterioration of the area into a semi-lawless enclave.
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During the Japanese occupation of 1941 to 1945 the wall was torn down and
the stone used to extend the nearby Kai Tak airfield.
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| Kowloon Walled City Park |
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After the war, high-rise tenements were built without authority. Those tenements lacked proper foundations and mushroomed over almost the whole site. The Walled City with its dark alleys became a notorious nest of drugs, criminals and vice dens.
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Demolition was completed in year 1994 and despite decades of neglect,
some historical relics was unearthed. They were incorporated
in the design or preserved as exhibits.
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| Kowloon Walled City Park |
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As the enclave remained part of Chinese territory, the Walled City became a haven for crime and drugs as the Hong Kong Police had no right to enter the City. Mainland China refused to take care of it.
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By the early 1980s, Kowloon Walled City had an estimated population of 35 000.
The area was notorious for its brothels, casinos, opium dens, cocaine parlours,
food courts serving dog meat and secret factories.
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| Kowloon Walled City Park |
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Click to see more pictures |
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