The City of Darkness: A Dystopian Paradise | The Rise and Fall of Cowloon Walled City

🏙️Cowloon Walled City existed on just 6 and 1/2 acres of land, housing a population density of 1 to 3 million people per square mile.

🔑The city was a haven for criminals, refugees, and people looking to start over, with no government, law, or regulation.

💀Organized crime, such as the Triads, flourished within the city, making it a den for criminal activity, including drug trade and prostitution.

💡Despite being a slum, the Wal City was also a hub for entrepreneurship, with factories producing goods like plastics, textiles, and food.

🏙️The city inspired cyberpunk fiction, serving as a symbol of unregulated freedom, anarchy, and human adaptation.

How did the Cowloon Walled City come into existence?

—The city was originally a military outpost built by China to keep an eye on the British colony of Hong Kong. It later became a refuge for criminals, refugees, and those seeking a fresh start.

What role did organized crime play in the city?

—Organized crime, particularly the Triads, had a significant presence in the city. They controlled a steady supply of drugs like opium and heroin and created gambling parlors and brothels.

What were some of the businesses in the city?

—The city housed various businesses, including factories that mass-produced goods like plastics, textiles, and food products. It also had unlicensed doctors and dentists offering affordable healthcare services.

Did the city have any government oversight or regulations?

—No, the city had no government, law, or regulations. It was a lawless and unregulated space where people lived and operated businesses without official oversight.

What led to the demolition of Cowloon Walled City?

—The Hong Kong government, aiming to remove the slum and restore order, offered compensation to residents to leave. After a lengthy eviction process, the city was demolished in 1993.

00:00Introduction to the densely populated and lawless Cowloon Walled City.

04:30The history of the city from its origins as a military outpost to becoming a haven for criminals and refugees.

09:00The rise of organized crime within the city, particularly the Triads.

13:00The city's dual nature as both a slum and a hub for entrepreneurship and affordable healthcare services.

14:00The influence of Cowloon Walled City on cyberpunk fiction and its symbolic representation of unregulated freedom and human adaptation.

16:00Addressing frequently asked questions about the city's origins, crime, businesses, regulations, and its eventual demolition.