Kowloon Walled City Park

Kowloon Walled City Park is located in one of the most historic sites in Hong Kong. The original site is Kowloon Walled City. It consists of a 6.5-acre walled city surrounded by solid stone walls, six observation towers and four gates. It was built between 1843 and 1847. In the history of Hong Kong, the Kowloon Walled City is the only territory of Hong Kong that has not been ceded or leased to the United Kingdom, covering an area of 29000 square meters. In 1994, it was established as a Chinese garden with Hong Kong characteristics.

Kowloon Walled City Park

Kowloon Walled City Park is located at the junction of Tung Tau Village Road and Tung Cheng Road in Kowloon City, Hong Kong. It is adjacent to Hou Wang Temple and has a rich and long historical background. In the history of Hong Kong, the Kowloon Walled City is the only territory of Hong Kong that has not been ceded or leased to the United Kingdom, covering an area of 29000 square meters. In 1994, it was established as a Chinese garden with Hong Kong characteristics. Located in one of the most historic sites in Hong Kong, the Former Kowloon Walled City Park consists of a 6.5-acre walled city surrounded by solid stone walls, six observation towers and four gates. It was built between 1843 and 1847. The park will try to retain some of the original buildings and features of Zhaicheng.

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Historical evolution

Jiulongzhaicheng Park covers an area of 31000 square meters, which was originally the site of jiulongzhaicheng in the Qing Dynasty. In 1898, when the territory to the north of Kowloon was leased, it was stipulated that the walled city was not included. Therefore, in the next hundred years, there were many conflicts over the governance of the area. Because of its special environment, it has been a mixture of good and bad for a long time, becoming a cancer in the city. Later, in 1987, the Chinese and British governments reached an agreement to turn the site into a park.

It took a lot of twists and turns to carry out the demolition. It didn't start construction until the spring of 1994. It cost more than 60 million yuan. It was carefully designed by many experts, hired domestic technicians, and transported special materials to imitate the Jiangnan gardens in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. In order to preserve the historical spirit of the place, the original yamen, moat, ancient well and wall are all reappeared one by one, in order to integrate history into the garden.

Jiulongzhaicheng Park covers an area of 31000 square meters. It was originally the site of jiulongzhaicheng Park in the Qing Dynasty. The Kowloon Walled City used to be the third territory between the Hong Kong government, the United Kingdom and the mainland. When the Treaty on the lease of territory north of Kowloon was signed in 1898, it declared that this piece of land in Hong Kong still belonged to China. However, the mainland government did not want to go deep here to disturb or be regarded as an act of provocation.

It was after the end of the first Opium War that Jiulong village began to set up Chengzhai. According to historical records, the formal walled city was built in 1803 (the 13th year of Daoguang in Qing Dynasty). The project was completed in March 1807 (the 17th year of Daoguang in Qing Dynasty). It took four years. At that time, the area of Jiulong walled city was only over 70 mu. It was built according to the mountain. There was a city wall around it. The width of the city was 140 Zhang, the length was 130 Zhang, the height of the city wall was about 7 Zhang, and the thickness of the wall was 5-10 Zhang. There was a gate in the southeast, northwest and northwest. The gate was about 8 feet high, the width was more than 8 feet deep, and the top was half moon shaped with iron gates. The south gate faces the sea and stands as the main gate, on which is engraved the four characters "jiulongzhaicheng". There is a small river in front of the gate, which is called Longjin river. There is a stone bridge across the river. It is the main channel for Jiulong walled city to go out to sea. Longjin stone bridge was built in 187 Sanfeng (the 12th year of Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty). It was completed in two years. The bridge is 60 feet long and 6 feet wide, with 100 pieces reaching the seaside. This is the famous "Longjin bridge". In 1892 (the 18th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty), due to sediment deposition, the coast retreated and wooden bridges were built. Chengzhai is an ancient historical place that has not been seen for a long time.

Jiulongchengzhai, surrounded by jiapinda Road, Leshan Road, Dongzheng Road, dongtoucun road and Lianhe Road, covers an area of about three hectares. Before the clearance, there were about 33000 residents. There were about five hundred ten to fourteen storey buildings with about 9300 residential units, including one thousand residential units for industrial and commercial purposes, 87 dental clinics, 74 western medicine clinics and other residential units All trades are all inclusive. Because of its special environment, it has gradually become an anarchic den of thieves. For a long time, it has been a mixture of good and bad, becoming a cancer in the city. Many people who broke the law in Hong Kong fled here and then took root, because there was no control here. Natural drug trafficking, smuggling, homicide and robbery continue. In order to eradicate this source of chaos, the Chinese and British governments reached an agreement in 1987. Before the return of Hong Kong, the British government issued a compensation bill for demolition to completely eliminate this lawless land, and built the Kowloon Walled City Park on the spot.

The park has been beautifully renovated, and Kowloon is no longer the source of evil. The Yamen and houses left in the early years of Chengzhai in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China were discovered one after another when they were dug up. It has been restored to its original appearance as far as possible, and the historical monument has been erected again. In addition to Yamen and historic sites, the park imitates the landscape of Jiangnan gardens in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, with window lattice, pavilion, lotus pool and leisurely Koi, which is very simple and ancient. In order to integrate the history into the garden.

Today, many buildings have been added to the jiulongzhaicheng park. However, many historical sites, such as stone plaques, cannons, pillar bases and Qing Dynasty official inscriptions, are still preserved during the demolition process and placed in the park for exhibition. There are also rare "yamen" buildings in South China, original stone tablets, historic sites in South Gate and concrete ruins before the war, which show the vicissitudes of the city.

Stepping into the South Gate of the park, the big characters of "jiulongzhaicheng" and "South Gate" are engraved on the gray square brick columns on both sides. Around the screen wall engraved with Park inscriptions, the scenery suddenly brightened, and a three entrance yamen came into view. This is the only ancient building preserved in Zhaicheng. After repair, it will return to its original appearance and stand in the center of the park. There are two ancient cannons in front of Yamen and an ancient well in the West. Inside the yamen, there are some cultural relics excavated in the Walled City, including two stone tablets engraved with the characters "Moyuan" and "Shou" written by Zhang Yutang, deputy general of Dapeng Association. The hall of Yamen also displays the plan of the walled city in 1902, which introduces the history of the walled city and the construction of the park.

Jiulongzhai city was first built in 1843, when the British army occupied Hong Kong, and Jiulong became the forefront of China's border defense. The Qing government changed the Guanfu inspection department into jiulongzhai inspection department, and moved its residence to jiulongzhai to build the urban construction department to strengthen the defense of Jiulong area. The Chengzhai project was launched in October, and took five years to complete. "Jiulongzhaicheng", also known as "jiulongzhai", was built with the donation of officials and gentry.

In 1898, the British government forced the Qing government to sign a special clause on the extension of the boundary of Hong Kong to lease the new territories for 99 years. The two sides agreed that Kowloon City would remain under the jurisdiction of China.

Since the Qing troops withdrew from the village in 1899, the village has gradually become a residential area with many squatters built. The residents live by raising pigs and farming. The walled city has been isolated from the outside world for a long time. The population in the city is increasing rapidly, and the illegal land occupation, demolition and construction are serious. The walled city is becoming more and more dilapidated, the city walls are also destroyed, and the city is reduced to a slum. After the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in 1942, in order to expand Kai Tak Airport as a military force, the walled city was demolished, the stones were removed, and the airport runway foundation was built. As a result, Kowloon Walled City became a city without walls.

In December 1984, the Sino British Joint Declaration on the Hong Kong issue was officially signed, which provided a good foundation for solving the problem of Kowloon Walled City. On January 14, 1987, the Hong Kong government announced to demolish the Kowloon Walled City within three years and turn it into a park. In order to construct the Kowloon Walled City Park, the Architectural Services Department of the Hong Kong government has sent five architects to the mainland to visit Chinese gardens in order to select the most suitable design. The early Qing Dynasty was the golden age of Chinese garden, so the Jiangnan garden in the early Qing Dynasty was taken as the design mode. The unique design of Zhaicheng Park won the design excellence award at the 1993 Stuttgart World Garden Expo. The park was opened on 22 December 1995 by the governor of Hong Kong, Mr Chris Patten. It is free to the public and tourists. It was once listed as the "eight sceneries of Xiangjiang River" and "the setting sun of the battlements" which aroused people's regret for the loss of land. From then on, it has become a paradise on earth. The park costs $76 million to build and is managed by the leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Main attractions

The design of jiulongzhaicheng park is based on the Jiangnan garden in the early Qing Dynasty. The Department has conducted in-depth research and field trips to China to select the most suitable design. This unique design won the design excellence award at the 1993 International Horticultural Exposition.

The park is divided into eight scenic spots, each with its own characteristics and beauty, which are cleverly integrated into the overall design. The park centers on a rebuilt Sanjin yamen, which makes the scene of the ancient village city reappear in front of the public again.

The past of Yafu

Yamen scenic area is located in the center of the park (the park office is also located here). It is the location of the ancient "yamen" Dapeng Association mansion and the Jiulong inspection office. Two cannons are displayed on both sides of the front court of Yamen. The cannon was built in the seventh year of Jiaqing (1802 A.D.) of the Qing Dynasty, which shows that the Qing government had a long-range view of this place.

Yamen is the only remaining ancient building in jiulongzhai city. It was built in 1847. It is a southern building with three entrances and four chambers. The walls and column bases are made of green bricks and gneiss. The roof beams are of traditional timber structure, covered with plain fired tubular tiles and cloth tiles. Since the withdrawal of the garrison from Zhaicheng in 1899, yamen has been used for many charitable purposes, including

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