Based in Dallas, Texas, David T. Ball regularly travels on business and for pleasure, while maintaining an active presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth community. Among David T. Ball’s favorite destinations are the ancient temples of India and Bali, as well as the cosmopolitan sights of Hong Kong.
One of the most unique sights in Hong Kong is the Kowloon Walled City Park, which sits on what was initially a Chinese military fort in the Sung Dynasty, focused on control of the salt trade. By the late 19th century, with the British taking control of Hong Kong, a garrison town was erected on the spot that housed Chinese soldiers and their families.
With sovereignty a major sticking point, the enclave was claimed by China, even as Hong Kong became a colony of Great Britain. During the area's Japanese occupation the wall that defined the site was demolished, and after World War II Chinese refugees poured in, with the population rising to 10,000 on the lawless 6.4-acre site. The number of inhabitants ultimately rose to 33,000, as makeshift high-rises were erected.
With sanitary conditions and quality of life ever-present challenges, the Walled City was razed in 1993 and replaced by a lush park that includes spots such as the Garden of the Chinese Zodiacs and the Chess Garden. A touch of the past remains within its grounds, as the remnants of the South Gate have been preserved.
One of the most unique sights in Hong Kong is the Kowloon Walled City Park, which sits on what was initially a Chinese military fort in the Sung Dynasty, focused on control of the salt trade. By the late 19th century, with the British taking control of Hong Kong, a garrison town was erected on the spot that housed Chinese soldiers and their families.
With sovereignty a major sticking point, the enclave was claimed by China, even as Hong Kong became a colony of Great Britain. During the area's Japanese occupation the wall that defined the site was demolished, and after World War II Chinese refugees poured in, with the population rising to 10,000 on the lawless 6.4-acre site. The number of inhabitants ultimately rose to 33,000, as makeshift high-rises were erected.
With sanitary conditions and quality of life ever-present challenges, the Walled City was razed in 1993 and replaced by a lush park that includes spots such as the Garden of the Chinese Zodiacs and the Chess Garden. A touch of the past remains within its grounds, as the remnants of the South Gate have been preserved.
