Kowloon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kowloon
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Kowloon as viewed from Hong Kong Island
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| Nickname(s):
Dragon City
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Location within Hong Kong
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| City | Kowloon |
| Area | |
| • Land | 67 km2 (26 sq mi) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 2,108,419 (2.1 million) |
| • Density | 43,033/km2 (111,450/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (Hong Kong Time) |
Kowloon is a busy urban area in Hong Kong. It includes the Kowloon Peninsula and an area called New Kowloon. It is surrounded by water and mountains. To the east is the Lei Yue Mun strait. To the west are Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutters Island.
North of Kowloon, you'll find mountains like Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock. To the south is the famous Victoria Harbour. Kowloon is home to over 2 million people, making it the most populated urban area in Hong Kong.
History of Kowloon
The name Kowloon means nine dragons. This name comes from eight important mountains and a Chinese emperor. The mountains are Kowloon Peak, Tung Shan, Tate's Cairn, Temple Hill, Unicorn Ridge, Lion Rock, Beacon Hill, and Crow's Nest. The ninth "dragon" is Emperor Bing of Song.
In 1937, a war in China caused many people to seek safety in Kowloon. Between 1937 and 1939, about 750,000 people arrived. Many of them needed homes. This made Kowloon very crowded.
Over time, simple shelters for these new arrivals were replaced. Modern public housing estates were built. These new buildings mixed with private homes, shops, and factories.
Within New Kowloon, there is an area called Kowloon City. This is where the famous Kowloon Walled City used to stand. The Walled City was a unique and crowded place. It was taken down in 1993.
Kowloon started to develop a lot in the early 1900s. Important projects included the Kowloon-Canton Railway and the Kowloon Wharf. However, building tall skyscrapers was difficult. This was because of the nearby Kai Tak Airport. Airplanes needed clear paths to land and take off. So, Kowloon's skyline is generally lower than that of Hong Kong Island.
Images for kids
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Map of Kowloon in 1915
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Hong Kong's old airport, Kai Tak, was located in Kowloon Bay.
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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hung Hom
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King George V School, Homantin
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Western Harbour Crossing, one of the tunnels that link Kowloon with Hong Kong Island
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Urban Council Centenary Garden fountain, Tsim Sha Tsui
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Maze Garden, Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui
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An Air France Boeing 747 passing above Kowloon, prior to landing at the old airport in 1998.
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Star Ferry Pier, with the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower in the background.
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Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre
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Night view of Kowloon from Hong Kong Island
See also
In Spanish: Kowloon para niños
