10 Places Humans Shouldn’t Be Able To Live (But Do)

After the end of World War II, this former Chinese military fort became completely overrun by squatters. It eventually became so lawless and unruly that all attempts to control the city were abandoned and all government run services were cut from it (bearing in mind that, in 20th century Hong Kong, this made life pretty grim).

To everyone's surprise, however, the city flourished. In a manner of speaking.

The population rocketed to up to 30,00 residents in the minuscule 6.5-acre region, giving it a population density of 3,250,000 people per square mile, and illegal buildings up to 12 storeys high were erected within the fort's walls. Living conditions were so cramped that barely any sunlight could penetrate below the top couple of floors and the muddy streets below were plunged into a perpetual twilight.

It was largely run by the Chinese mafia, known as the Triads, and quickly took on the lawlessness of the Wild West and prostitution, drug use, crime and murder were endemic. Anarchy ruled, crime paid and opium dens were the equivalent of your local pub. Sounds lovely.

But after 30 years of lawlessness, the Chinese government finally got sick of having an impenetrable crime fortress right next to the bustling city of Hong Kong. So they pulled up their big boy pants and flattened the thing in the early 90s.

In complete contrast to what went before the land is now occupied by a beautifully gentrified park, complete with sculptures and fountains.