This feels like one of those abstract indie games where humans have had to move into massive underground cities that are tightly packed because of some supernatural threat in the sky.
Kowloon is one of the most underrated places in the world. They could definitely make games, movies, TV shows about this place it has that vibe that it could be the location of a top TV show and also a top video game at the same time. Especially pre-social media and technology kowloon.
Hearing abt this city, it was made to sound like the place was some urban legend with the curse of Ra or smthn. They all seem pretty chill and cozy ngl lol
humans make do wherever we live, I think. even in the most difficult environments to live in I’m sure you’ll find some people content with what they have
It looks like any other poor neighborhood in the world tbh, reminds me of my grandmothers neighborhood in Monterrey, Nuevo León, just you know, if it were a bunch of mushed skyscrapers
Not really. The modern china is more of a cyberpunk honestly that only it hasnt gotten big yet but in 2090 chinese cities are😂 man i cant even imagine if it looks like this today imagine 50-90 years from now
It's because it's so out of our reality. So out of our time. This was over 30 years ago in a city with very different conditions and cultures. It's easier to imagine ourselves in those situations when we view them from such a distance. I lived in student housing in the Netherlands where the kitchen (the hangout spot) had no windows. There were open air vents that mice would crawl in and out of, and it constantly stank of mold. The walls separating the rooms were paper thin. Sometimes they were laid with stone and you could see through the gaps into the other room. One time I tried to nail something to the wall and the nail pierced all the way into my neighbour's room. The elevator sometimes didn't work so in my case we would walk 8 floors up and down on some days. We were all depressed and constantly on something. But some of us did form a community together. Most have moved away though.
05:26 "What can you do when the rent is so expensive?" This is so weird. I had the same conversation a few months ago. I have to move soon ... 33 years ago, people had the same problems in big cities. I wonder what happend to the man.
Don't fear. Dude is a Chinese businessman; they are indestructible. As for your situation, I hope you are also a Chinese businessman and/or have found a cheaper place to live/work.
So this has to be one of the only recordings of this urban anomaly? You always see the walled city in recreations, but never with VHS footage. Its amazing how theres factory production in this place, its truly a walled city
Old Hong Kong, even in the areas outsiders deem a dystopian, is a beautiful, intimate place many call home. As a Hongkonger myself, I really love this footage, not just for the nostalgia it evokes, but also for the way it reflects our rich cultural heritage :))
@@Reppo80085 some of Ghost in the shell anime urban architecture got their inspiration from kowloon walled city, the style passed down to recent video games called cyberpunk2077, it became an iconic style of a slum jn dystopian future, like it or not, kowloon walled city cemented itself in pop culture.
Omg....... I saved this to watch later yesterday as it was recommended and watched it today..... Yesterday was 20/11/2024 Same day just 33 years later 😳
Is this, by some cosmic chance, availible somewhere without the cuts? We need to preserve every existing video and photo of this place that still exists, at all cost. An one-of-a-kind unique piece of architectural and social history.
What's wild to me is how this was filmed around 2pm but its pitch-black inside, the sunlight rly didnt reach there... (apart from the old well at the end)
🌸 I’m so excited over this Very sad when it was demolished 1993 This was taken 20th Nov 1991, so very happy to get glimpse into this productive community
Well it's definitely a legend now because the Kowloon Walled City was demolished in 1993. The only records of it existing are from random video clips like this and photos. Now it's just a memory of a city that once was.
I saw, remember the shanty towns near the Marco Polo hotel? They were no safer. Tourists think they're such tough-guy bigshots in New Dehli. Come to 1990 Kowloon.
Checked out the remnants of the Kowloon walled city last year, they had some videos at the exhibit on life within the walls, but nothing like this! Really cool to see what life used to be here.
At 2:40, “do you mind if i film some video footage”… even back then where there were no platform to showcase this kind of videos anywhere, basic courtesy existed
Based on the footage, there seems to be light on the side of the frame and it looks more like an every day street of Hong Kong so I assume that that’s just another clip that slipped in for some reason
Would be nice to have a video game with the walled city in it. I think some older games feature it but would be nice to have a modern game with modern graphics.
I think about this every day. But then I think how extensive the development would be checking every nook and cranny to make sure everything is in good standing.
I think it could make for a brilliant horror game. Maybe you’re part of a small team in charge of removing the last people from the city before it’s demolished. Infinite dark abandoned buildings interconnected into each other. Would feel so suffocating.
There's actually a horror game based on it and it's called "Welcome to Kowloon". I haven't played it myself but I've watched someone play it and it really incorporated the tight and dark spaces in Kowloon. Pretty scary game from what I watched.
I think a big difference between China and most Westernised cultures is the subcultures. Westernised cultures have adopted a postmodernist approach where many different people can interpret meanings differently. For instance a gamer in the West might identity themselves as part of a subgroup in society that is different from the mainstream society. These subgroups form there own culture and how they interpret the world around them. As a result of all these subcultures in society, you find many different perspectives online and viewpoints of the world and meaning has moved from one just one to many (also called plurality). Before the industrial age in the West, the majority of the books people read, the stories they were told, and the paintings they saw etc were all based on religion. This meant that when you asked the question 'What is a good person?' most will tell you a narrative based on religion such as a person that doesn't commit adultery or sin and so on. Modernism came into force during the industrial age where video and photos started to become a thing. But these photos and videos portrayed the world "as it is" without any manipulation, tainted narratives, or even anything unrealistic. Postmodernism then is what philosophers call the present state. Technology has made the world come closer with many different cultures and in turn has altered what people think is morally right and wrong and what it means to be a good citizen. You have many subcultures that haven't existed before such as gamers, sci-fi movie goers, Swifties, Alpha males, Andrew Tate, Joe Rogan etc. With all that in mind, I think China hasn't openly progressed to Postmodernism like the rest of the world and is actively fighting it off or at least embracing it to a small extent. China is becoming more like 'pre-Modernism' in the West mixed with modernism where all the media pushed a single message and narrative on interpreting the world. All school books, tv dramas, movies and so on all portray a particular defined set of virtues and values just like religion did in the West. This is what the Chinese state appears to be actively chasing in regards to culture. China has a lot of different cultures but they share a lot in common in reagards to values and virtues. One could say a lot more in common than differences. You aren't going to find cultures in China actively promoting narratives such as 'a good person would fight for their rights' over 'a good person will support the government'.
I miss the old HK. I was only there for 3 years but loved HK. Everything from the shiny malls of Central to the dirty back alleys with flying cockroaches. Living was expensive and cheap at the same time. Great food.
@@hankbarcelona7314born & raised hongkonger here 😊 Hong Kong’s housing is the most expensive in the world. But low income tax, no sales tax , cheap healthcare, cheap food & excellent infrastructure make Hong Kong a wonderland.
For all the negative press this place got, it seems like everyone actually liked living their. I get a sense of community. And honestly it doesn't seem that dangerous. Dilapidated yes but it doesn't look like anyone's going to rob you. Because everyone knows each other.
@@RT-qd8yl It gives me mild claustrophobia too but I too come from a similar community neighborhood like the Kowloon Walled City. We weren't as enclosed but our houses/buildings are condensely packed together into one small area that houses are often touching or sharing partition walls even though they're separate buildings.
i dont think anyone would like to be in there at first place, its like you live in a huge public toilet, but filled with drug dealer, prostitution and dental clinic
Kowloon was an infamous location in Hong Kong. It was initially a large military fortress that gradually expanded into an extremely dense city literally covered on all sides by walls, hence it's called the walled city. The unusual structure and circumstances made it a sociological interest all around the world, so a lot of journalists went there to see it. People there lived in a very tightly packed cramped environment and a lot of the city was composed of underground parts. The city was poor and mostly made of slums, and its walled structure made it difficult for outside governments to access it, so local mafias and gangs had largely controlled it. The entire city was demolished in the 90s, shortly after this vlog. In the video you notice the lady asking people "how much will you be compensated?" It's because the entire population was made to leave and they were given money by the goverment to make it easier for them to move.
It's unbelievable this footage exists. Please, never delete this!
Luckily those police didn't steal the tape! 4:32
Download it! Many videos get deleted on UA-cam.
Fuck it it's 1 am I'm downloading this now@@rake483
This is absolutely amazing... Some of the only clear footage from inside this extraordinary place.
😂 You must be 18-23 years of age .. 1991 was NOT long ago
About 5-6 years back I scoured the internet for this. EVERYWHERE everyone concluded no such thing existed or could've existed. Wow, just wow.
Well I'm glad you found it now,
Well I’m angry you found it now,
@@2soupy4uwell why u angry it’s rare footage
@@AidenRianocuz the other guys happy
@@2soupy4u I know.. it just doesn't sit well
Strange how I got this recommended 33, years later on the same day
Lol I just realized that
Same here
This feels like one of those abstract indie games where humans have had to move into massive underground cities that are tightly packed because of some supernatural threat in the sky.
Metro 2033
Nerd
@@thisreplywillbeuselessbuth9879 Yes.
evangelion type shi
Kowloon is one of the most underrated places in the world. They could definitely make games, movies, TV shows about this place it has that vibe that it could be the location of a top TV show and also a top video game at the same time. Especially pre-social media and technology kowloon.
Awesome seeing some new footage from the walled city!
Hearing abt this city, it was made to sound like the place was some urban legend with the curse of Ra or smthn. They all seem pretty chill and cozy ngl lol
humans make do wherever we live, I think. even in the most difficult environments to live in I’m sure you’ll find some people content with what they have
It looks like any other poor neighborhood in the world tbh, reminds me of my grandmothers neighborhood in Monterrey, Nuevo León, just you know, if it were a bunch of mushed skyscrapers
Fellas, time to find that hour long Japanse recording
can you give more info?
More info
@@darkjanggo2:52
It could be this one: ua-cam.com/video/No_vQ8FiQiw/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/No_vQ8FiQiw/v-deo.htmlsi=0M6jCPNrrQxMCq1Y
This is absolutely amazing... Some of the only clear footage from inside this extraordinary place.
What are you talking about? This video is anything, but clear!
@@Flat_Earth_Sophia Find better!
@@tccandler Already have. Plenty.
@@Flat_Earth_Sophia You cannot even link one -- so that is a lie. Nice try.
@@Flat_Earth_Sophiabro's yapping
This the real Cyberpunk
Considering it's 1991, more like cassette-punk.
Not really.
The modern china is more of a cyberpunk honestly that only it hasnt gotten big yet but in 2090 chinese cities are😂 man i cant even imagine if it looks like this today imagine 50-90 years from now
@@MR_LoreYT
Uhhh okay
@@nathanventura548 js saying no problem
No it is not.
I know this is seen as a hellish existence, but there is something weirdly cozy about it.
I know right??? It just seems so cozy to me too, I'm fascinated by this place.
wrg,no such thing as hx or betx or etc
Generations of families had been raised there, residents talk about a sense of community and have mostly fond memories of their time there
It's because it's so out of our reality. So out of our time. This was over 30 years ago in a city with very different conditions and cultures. It's easier to imagine ourselves in those situations when we view them from such a distance. I lived in student housing in the Netherlands where the kitchen (the hangout spot) had no windows. There were open air vents that mice would crawl in and out of, and it constantly stank of mold. The walls separating the rooms were paper thin. Sometimes they were laid with stone and you could see through the gaps into the other room. One time I tried to nail something to the wall and the nail pierced all the way into my neighbour's room. The elevator sometimes didn't work so in my case we would walk 8 floors up and down on some days. We were all depressed and constantly on something. But some of us did form a community together. Most have moved away though.
Former residents are on record saying essentially the same thing
05:26 "What can you do when the rent is so expensive?"
This is so weird. I had the same conversation a few months ago. I have to move soon ... 33 years ago, people had the same problems in big cities. I wonder what happend to the man.
Don't fear. Dude is a Chinese businessman; they are indestructible. As for your situation, I hope you are also a Chinese businessman and/or have found a cheaper place to live/work.
Tardigrade of the economy
So this has to be one of the only recordings of this urban anomaly? You always see the walled city in recreations, but never with VHS footage. Its amazing how theres factory production in this place, its truly a walled city
The movie bloodsport has some good footage
Chase scene in 'Life is cheap, but toilet paper is expensive' have recordings of the inside and roof top.
Old Hong Kong, even in the areas outsiders deem a dystopian, is a beautiful, intimate place many call home. As a Hongkonger myself, I really love this footage, not just for the nostalgia it evokes, but also for the way it reflects our rich cultural heritage :))
Nothing about here is culturayand heritage....
Rats, electric shock, drugs, human trafficking, murder. All so beautiful! What are you, Albanian?
@@Reppo80085 I don't agree with you, its an interesting piece of history
@@Reppo80085 some of Ghost in the shell anime urban architecture got their inspiration from kowloon walled city, the style passed down to recent video games called cyberpunk2077, it became an iconic style of a slum jn dystopian future, like it or not, kowloon walled city cemented itself in pop culture.
have you ever been forced to work one of these factory jobs or are you a trust fund baby?
Omg....... I saved this to watch later yesterday as it was recommended and watched it today.....
Yesterday was 20/11/2024
Same day
just 33 years later 😳
Is this, by some cosmic chance, availible somewhere without the cuts? We need to preserve every existing video and photo of this place that still exists, at all cost. An one-of-a-kind unique piece of architectural and social history.
What's wild to me is how this was filmed around 2pm but its pitch-black inside, the sunlight rly didnt reach there... (apart from the old well at the end)
"A japanese TV channel just filmed here" We know what to do!
found it in another comment ua-cam.com/video/No_vQ8FiQiw/v-deo.htmlsi=uEiur75tKVM6t1HT
The Japanese documentary: ua-cam.com/video/No_vQ8FiQiw/v-deo.htmlsi=alqKz89nVZHV4hYh
Thank you!!
🌸 I’m so excited over this
Very sad when it was demolished 1993
This was taken 20th Nov 1991, so very happy to get glimpse into this productive community
For sure angloids are sad the slum they created was demolished
2:52 That means more footage exists somewhere out there.
SO FASCINATING. honestly cant believe this place ever existed
This footage was taken when HK was still a British colony.
Fish eyes lens is perfect to hit a Trey flip
Incredible footage. They were living in an analog Cyberpunk Dystopia.
Very kind of them to let her film. Little did they know, she was capturing historic footage.
many hong kong people used to lived on a boat, thats why they are fine staying in a condense place like this
wow this girl is brave 😱
I have seen this city portrayed in movies and shows. It has a kind of mystic status to me.
Well it's definitely a legend now because the Kowloon Walled City was demolished in 1993. The only records of it existing are from random video clips like this and photos. Now it's just a memory of a city that once was.
Immortalize this for all generations to see ❤
Seriously, Thanks for sharing
Absolutely beautiful
Thank you for sharing this rare footage
Coincidently, today is 20/11/2024
Its 13:45 and it seemed to be 9pm
I saw, remember the shanty towns near the Marco Polo hotel? They were no safer. Tourists think they're such tough-guy bigshots in New Dehli. Come to 1990 Kowloon.
I think my dad an uncle are in this!!!!I was born after the city closed..buthis is so bizarre really seeing things my family always described .
finally some legit footage instead of some muppet talking about it
Checked out the remnants of the Kowloon walled city last year, they had some videos at the exhibit on life within the walls, but nothing like this! Really cool to see what life used to be here.
Wow this is awesome! I’ve heard stories and played that multiplayer map from Call of Duty: Black Ops, but finding video of Kowloon is amazing!
This is oddly nostalic i dont know whats wrong with me...
The same thing 😮
Am I only one who randomly thinks about the walled city and gets nostalgic feelings? Born and raised in Florida USA for further confusion lol
@@Coleman_H
I feel the same way & I'm born/raised in northern CA.
It’s that 90s-early 2000ish nostalgia.(I’m 28). Reminds of some old Japanese anime movie like spirited away or akira
There were quite a lot of anime, movies, and other forms of medias took heavy inspirations, be it the concept or aesthetic, from the Wall city
if u guys want some more old footages of kowloon walled city, yall can look at some of the old hong kong films such as "Lost arm of the Law".
the documentary that Japanese filmed ..WHERE IS IT please
that comment needs to be fixed! INTERNET DO YOUR THING
is is really from Osaca?
It’s actually in China and they’re speaking Cantonese (I know because I can understand what they’re saying 😭)
@@softcookieconsumer they’re talking about a Japanese documentary about the area, which is obvs in hong kong
ua-cam.com/video/No_vQ8FiQiw/v-deo.htmlsi=uEiur75tKVM6t1HT
Oh wow, footage of a hair salon!!! So wild to see all these clips
At 2:40, “do you mind if i film some video footage”… even back then where there were no platform to showcase this kind of videos anywhere, basic courtesy existed
完全無法想像入面啲衞生環境有幾差
5:15 I can't believe store owners got no compensation
Reminds me of the HK horror movie "Human Bun" where the chef runs out of meat and makes yummy buns out of his close neighbors. And they love it.
seems so nice and clean for what it is...
The Cantonese sounds much more crisp and lively than many of the Hong Kongers speak today which is becoming more mono-tonal and less energetic.
Me recordó a un canal con muchos videos viejos pero sin comentarios. No sé que le habrá pasado
Very in depth look into life in Kowloon thanks😊
were those hong kong police? i thought the walled city didnt have much police presence outside of raids..
Based on the footage, there seems to be light on the side of the frame and it looks more like an every day street of Hong Kong so I assume that that’s just another clip that slipped in for some reason
kowloon walled city is an anarchy place, so basically no police, or sometimes a short period of police operations
they're at near-ground/ground level where most of it consists of shops and workshops as seen in the video, there are some police presence obviously
@@cracklelacquer5602 And also at the very entrance
Would be nice to have a video game with the walled city in it. I think some older games feature it but would be nice to have a modern game with modern graphics.
I think about this every day. But then I think how extensive the development would be checking every nook and cranny to make sure everything is in good standing.
@@Anom-vd4kn yes very true, however I have seen areas in games that seem to have been inspired by the walled city.
Stray I heard is based off of it, its not wholly accurate though
I think it could make for a brilliant horror game. Maybe you’re part of a small team in charge of removing the last people from the city before it’s demolished. Infinite dark abandoned buildings interconnected into each other. Would feel so suffocating.
There's actually a horror game based on it and it's called "Welcome to Kowloon". I haven't played it myself but I've watched someone play it and it really incorporated the tight and dark spaces in Kowloon. Pretty scary game from what I watched.
This is a masterpiece
post the uncut version bruh
i understood everything she said lol (i grew up speaking cantonese)
If you played the cat game Stray, this makes perfect sense.
The positive side of UA-cam.
hidden gem
This is wonderful documentation ❤
Getting ready for Prue and Cathy's trip over..
Its from 1991.. i wonder how are the people in the videos are doing right now...
precious video 👍🏻
it was a difficult process living in the industrialized boom
This is awesome
Dang those guys really have been playing chess for decades
nothing spells out 'china in the 90s' like letting complete strangers near dangerous heavy machinery
Thank you for this
Wow this is rare, always keep this around. Will be worth something one day I’m sure
I forget that kids lived in Kowloon
This could have been an alter of Philippines if it had untouched zoning laws and not be under the aquino mafia.
Correct
Enter the Void.
I think a big difference between China and most Westernised cultures is the subcultures. Westernised cultures have adopted a postmodernist approach where many different people can interpret meanings differently. For instance a gamer in the West might identity themselves as part of a subgroup in society that is different from the mainstream society. These subgroups form there own culture and how they interpret the world around them. As a result of all these subcultures in society, you find many different perspectives online and viewpoints of the world and meaning has moved from one just one to many (also called plurality).
Before the industrial age in the West, the majority of the books people read, the stories they were told, and the paintings they saw etc were all based on religion. This meant that when you asked the question 'What is a good person?' most will tell you a narrative based on religion such as a person that doesn't commit adultery or sin and so on.
Modernism came into force during the industrial age where video and photos started to become a thing. But these photos and videos portrayed the world "as it is" without any manipulation, tainted narratives, or even anything unrealistic.
Postmodernism then is what philosophers call the present state. Technology has made the world come closer with many different cultures and in turn has altered what people think is morally right and wrong and what it means to be a good citizen. You have many subcultures that haven't existed before such as gamers, sci-fi movie goers, Swifties, Alpha males, Andrew Tate, Joe Rogan etc.
With all that in mind, I think China hasn't openly progressed to Postmodernism like the rest of the world and is actively fighting it off or at least embracing it to a small extent. China is becoming more like 'pre-Modernism' in the West mixed with modernism where all the media pushed a single message and narrative on interpreting the world. All school books, tv dramas, movies and so on all portray a particular defined set of virtues and values just like religion did in the West. This is what the Chinese state appears to be actively chasing in regards to culture. China has a lot of different cultures but they share a lot in common in reagards to values and virtues. One could say a lot more in common than differences. You aren't going to find cultures in China actively promoting narratives such as 'a good person would fight for their rights' over 'a good person will support the government'.
its amazed me some how
at one point this little walled in city was responsible for almost all of the worlds plastics in the early 90s
Where did you find this information?
I miss the old HK. I was only there for 3 years but loved HK. Everything from the shiny malls of Central to the dirty back alleys with flying cockroaches. Living was expensive and cheap at the same time. Great food.
"Expensive and cheap at the same time"
Which parts were expensive and which parts were cheap?
@@hankbarcelona7314rent is insane, but travel is amazing on the minibus and MTR, and you can get great meals for cheap at local places
@@hankbarcelona7314born & raised hongkonger here 😊 Hong Kong’s housing is the most expensive in the world. But low income tax, no sales tax , cheap healthcare, cheap food & excellent infrastructure make Hong Kong a wonderland.
@trishp1565 Thank you!
This is amazing
I was one year old in 1991.
Kowloon is my happy place
Looks like a scene out of Stephen Chow movie/the matrix
Is there a way to download this?? It’s beautiful😭
She still filming while being in trouble for it 😂
For all the negative press this place got, it seems like everyone actually liked living their. I get a sense of community. And honestly it doesn't seem that dangerous. Dilapidated yes but it doesn't look like anyone's going to rob you. Because everyone knows each other.
You only really got targeted if you owed someone it was more drug related crime
As a firefighter the whole place gives me nightmares
@@RT-qd8yl It gives me mild claustrophobia too but I too come from a similar community neighborhood like the Kowloon Walled City. We weren't as enclosed but our houses/buildings are condensely packed together into one small area that houses are often touching or sharing partition walls even though they're separate buildings.
i dont think anyone would like to be in there at first place, its like you live in a huge public toilet, but filled with drug dealer, prostitution and dental clinic
@@ngoscar8647 At least they didn't have to go as far for drugs, prostitutes, and fillings
Very interesting
Was this shot with a fish eye lens? The dimensions are odd.
Amazing footage though. Looks straight out of Deus Ex
Cant believe the police let you film them!
That's the meaning of police who are fearless
5:35 Y'all prob dont know how hard it is to find a ally way that big in cowloon
Someone make this a horror game but the horror is being stalked and no one in the KWC caring or helping.
There is a horror game based on this place, it’s called “Welcome to Kowloon”, however it’s not like the type of horror game you mentioned.
I stumbled upon this video. Although it seems really cool I’m missing out on some context here. Can sum1 fill me in on the lore???
Kowloon was an infamous location in Hong Kong. It was initially a large military fortress that gradually expanded into an extremely dense city literally covered on all sides by walls, hence it's called the walled city. The unusual structure and circumstances made it a sociological interest all around the world, so a lot of journalists went there to see it. People there lived in a very tightly packed cramped environment and a lot of the city was composed of underground parts. The city was poor and mostly made of slums, and its walled structure made it difficult for outside governments to access it, so local mafias and gangs had largely controlled it. The entire city was demolished in the 90s, shortly after this vlog. In the video you notice the lady asking people "how much will you be compensated?" It's because the entire population was made to leave and they were given money by the goverment to make it easier for them to move.
This scares me
i wonder where these people are now
We are gathered here today by the almighty algorithm.
This is unironically how i imagine one of the (nicer) Hive citiws in 40k to be like
What kind of fisheye camera is this 😂
Now Shenzhen makes Hk look archaic
Wanna know how to bring in machines.
just learned what this was, holy crap is it dystopian
the sun rip
East Asia is Cyberpunk irl
It was, KWC no longer exists.
this feels like a found footage horror film
Not every analog video is "found footage horror" 🙄
This was where people lived and you're trivializing it to just being "horror".
@@_Just_Another_GuyIm thinking they meant the dark hallways
i'm claustrophobic...
I have no idea what i am watching im not trying to be mean someone should help theses people i think im not sure are they ok wtf