A sprawling three-year exhibition resurrecting the gritty allure of the demolished Kowloon Walled City opened today (May 23), blending cinematic spectacle with historical preservation. Funded by Hong Kong's Film Development Fund and curated by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey project recreates scenes from the award-winning film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) at the enclave's original site.
Step into 1980s chaos, and visitors navigate meticulously reconstructed alleys and shops from the film. A rooftop installation projects the city's skyline while simulating the thunderous roar of planes from the former Kai Tak Airport—an auditory relic of 1980s Kowloon life.
Craftsmanship Meets Nostalgia Traditional Hong Kong craftsmanship anchors the exhibition: a towering floral archway greets guests, while iron gates mimic the rusted aesthetics of old tenement buildings. Recycled floor tiles salvaged from demolished structures add authenticity, and interactive displays spotlight fading trades like neon sign-making.
Once dubbed the world's densest slum, the lawless Kowloon Walled City housed 33,000 residents in a maze of illicit high-rises before its 1994 demolition. The exhibition, free to the public until 2027, bridges generations through cinema, reigniting debates about urban memory and cultural identity.
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