Kowloon Walled City Park

Kowloon Walled City Park
九龍寨城公園
An aerial view of the Kowloon Walled City Park
Location	Kowloon City, Kowloon
Coordinates	22°19′55″N114°11′24″E / 22.33194°N 114.19000°E / 22.33194; 114.19000
Area	7.66 acres (3.10 hectares)
Opened	22 December 1995;28 years ago (1995-12-22)
Operated by	Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Open	Year round

For details on the city before it was converted into a park, see Kowloon Walled City.

In the middle of the 19th century, the Qing government started to build an enclave beside Kowloon Bay, surrounded by stone walls. The Kowloon Walled City was initially used for military purposes, housing many soldiers and their families. During World War II, the stone walls were demolished by the Imperial Japanese Army. Part of them were buried and well preserved under the soil. ^[1] By the 1970s, the population of the city had risen to 41,000. ^[3] The number of buildings was 503 in 1994. By that time, the British colonial government found it increasingly difficult to manage and control the serious crime in the area related to drugs, illegal gambling, prostitution and quackery. Domestic factories, including textile, candy-making and production of jook-sing noodles, were situated in the area. After the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, Britain and China embarked on a discussion about solving the problems in the Walled City, and subsequently announced its demolition on 14 January 1987. Between 1987 and 1989 residents were resettled, and demolition began in 1993. ^[4]

By 1995 the site had been transformed into a park for nearby residents. ^[5] Due to its proximity to the Kai Tak Airport, and so that the park could have a more open view, regulation of the height of buildings was strictly enforced.^{[ citation needed ]}

Featured facilities

The park consists mainly of eight landscape features: the Yamen (衙府), Old South Gate (南門), Eight Floral Walks (八徑異趣), Garden of Four Seasons (四季同馨 – 廣蔭庭), Garden of Chinese Zodiac (生肖倩影 – 童樂苑), Chess Garden (棋壇比弈遊弈園), Mountain View Pavilion (邀山樓) as well as the Fei Sing Pavilion (魁星半亭) and Guibi Rock (歸璧石). ^[6]

The Yamen (衙府) is located in the centre of the Park and is the only remaining old Qing building. It was built in 1847; its interior was dominated by the offices of the Commodore of the Dapeng Brigade (大鵬協府) and the Kowloon Assistant Military Inspectorate (九龍巡檢司衙署). It was designed with three rows and four wings of houses. Its walls and column bases are built from bricks and granite, while the roof is a traditional structure covered with cylindrical and flat tiles. After 1899 the Yamen was used for charitable purposes, like housing elderly. It is now officially classified as a declared monument in Hong Kong. Six exhibition rooms are housed inside. ^[7]

The original site of the South Gate (南門) has been designated as a declared monument and all related relics unearthed have been preserved. Flagstone pavement, cornerstones of the buildings, and a drain were discovered. Also, two granite plaques with Chinese characters for "South Gate" and "Kowloon Walled City" were unearthed at the site of the original gate when the Walled City was torn down in 1994. ^[8]

The Garden features 12 Chinese zodiac sculptures. They are arranged according to the Heavenly Stems (Tiangan 天干) and Earthly Branches (Dizhi 地支) in Chinese astrology.^{[ citation needed ]}

The Guibi Rock was carved from Taihu stone. It is named Guibi because its veins are similar to those of ancient jade.{explain} Fui Sing Pavilion symbolises a constellation of literature and wisdom. Guibi Rock also symbolises the hope of returning Hong Kong to China.^{[ citation needed ]}

The Mountain View Pavilion provides a view of the Lion Rock, which resembles a lion sitting with its head facing the Pavilion.^{[ citation needed ]}

There are four large chessboards built on the ground with pebbles for visitors to enjoy a game of chess.^{[ citation needed ]}

Located to the west of Yamen, the Kwong Yam Square is a garden where flowers of the four seasons could{clarify} be seen. ^[9]

Since April 2009 there also is a permanent exhibition in the park about the history of the site. It consists of one outdoor display area and six exhibition rooms, which are located inside the Yamen. ^[10]

The outdoor display area near the South Gate shows a tablet{clarify} and a model of the former Walled City. ^[10] The front of the tablet has an introductory article inscribed, whereas the back presents a cross-section of the pre-demolished city and a depiction of the daily lives of its residents. Behind the tablet stands a bronze miniature model of the city which allows the visitors to touch and have a closer look. ^[10]

The six exhibition rooms illustrate the living environment inside the Walled City through interactive imagery and sound. ^[10]

References

1. "Home". lcsd.gov.hk. Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
2. "Design of the Park". lcsd.gov.hk. Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
3. Lu, Jin (1988). Jiulongcheng zhai shi hua九龍寨城史話 (in Chinese) (Xianggang di 1 ban ed.). Hong Kong: Joint Publishing (Hong Kong) Company Limited. p. 24. ISBN   962-04-0682-6.
4. Ng, Kang-Chung (24 March 1993). "First blow landed as the walls come tumbling down". South China Morning Post. p. 1. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
5. Hong Kong Yearbook. Government Printing Bureau of Hong Kong. 1996. p. 331.
6. Kowloon Walled City Park Exhibition Guide (Brochure). Hong Kong: Leisure and Cultural Services Department. 2015.
7. "The Kowloon Walled City Park". lcsd.gov.hk. Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
8. "The Old South Gate". lcsd.gov.hk. Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
9. "The Garden of Four Seasons". lcsd.gov.hk. Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
10. "A City of Thousand Faces". lcsd.gov.hk. Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2020.

Kowloon Walled City Park
Traditional Chinese	九龍寨城公園
Transcriptions Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Gáu lùhng jaaih sìhng gūng yùhn Jyutping Gau2 lung4 zaai6 sing4 gung1 jyun4

v t e Kowloon City District
Part of	Kowloon (areas to the south of the Boundary Street) New Kowloon (areas to the north of the Boundary Street)
Areas	Ho Man Tin Hung Hom (part) Kadoorie Hill Kai Tak Kau Pui Lung Kowloon Bay (part) Kowloon City Kowloon Tong (part) Kowloon Tsai Ma Tau Chung Ma Tau Kok 13 Streets Ma Tau Wai To Kwa Wan Whampoa
Landmarks	41 Cumberland Road (Bruce Lee home) Beacon Hill Broadcast Drive Cattle Depot Artist Village Celestial Heights Grand Waterfront Holy Trinity Cathedral, Hong Kong Hong Kong Baptist Hospital Hong Kong Children's Hospital Hong Kong Coliseum Hong Kong Housing Authority Exhibition Centre Kai Ching Estate Kai Tak Sports Park Kerry Hotel Hong Kong Kowloon City Plaza Kowloon East Barracks (formerly Osborn Barracks) Kowloon Hospital Kowloon Tsai Park Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool Kowloon Walled City (demolished) Kowloon Walled City Park Laguna Verde The Laguna Mall No. 12 Hill Quarry Hill St. Teresa's Church Whampoa Garden
Transport	Former airport Kai Tak Airport Water Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Hung Hom Ferry Pier Major roads Argyle Street (part) Boundary Street (part) Chatham Road North Cornwall Street (part) Hunghom Bypass (part) Junction Road Kowloon City Road Ma Hang Chung Road Ma Tau Chung Road Ma Tau Kok Road Ma Tau Wai Road Mok Cheong Street Prince Edward Road West (part) Princess Margaret Road To Kwa Wan Road Waterloo Road (part) Wuhu Street MTR stations Ho Man Tin Hung Hom Kai Tak Kowloon Tong (part) Sung Wong Toi To Kwa Wan Whampoa
Education	Tertiary Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong Metropolitan University Primary and secondary American International School Hong Kong Australian International School Hong Kong Carmel Secondary School Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College Heep Yunn School Hoi Ping Chamber of Commerce Secondary School Holy Family Canossian College Jockey Club Government Secondary School King George V School Kowloon True Light School La Salle College Maryknoll Convent School Munsang College New Asia Middle School New Method College Notre Dame College Pentecostal School Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College Pooi To Middle School Pui Ching Middle School Rudolf Steiner Education Foundation Hong Kong Maria College Scientia Secondary School SKH Tsoi Kung Po Secondary School St. Teresa Secondary School Stamford American School Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Tsoi Kung Po Secondary School Tang King Po School TWGH Wong Fut Nam College Wa Ying College Yew Chung International School Y.W.C.A. Hioe Tjo Yoeng College Former French International School of Hong Kong Hung Hom campus
This list is incomplete.