This Neighbourhood Is the Most Densely Populated Place on Earth

There are close to eight million people living in Hong Kong, and if you’ve ever ventured to the city’s Mong Kok district, you get the feeling that a large majority of those eight million people hang out here.

To call the district busy is an understatement. In the local tongue of Cantonese, ‘Mong Kok’ literally means ‘busy corner’. Indeed, according to the Guinness World Records, it’s the most densely populated place on Earth.

The 130,000 people packed inside each square kilometre is more people than the entire population of some countries. Yet Mong Kok is just one of Hong Kong’s numerous neighbourhoods.

It’s a bustling hive of neon lights, street markets, people, noise, and is packed to the brim with life in all its varied forms. It’s one of Hong Kong’s most vibrant and energising neighbourhoods, with something to grab your attention at every turn.

It can be a joy to explore this neighbourhood. Admittedly, you feel more packed in than a tin of sardines in places, but that has just become part and parcel of life here and the overall Mong Kok experience.

After all, Mong Kok is a neighbourhood that has a lot to attract people, starting with Hong Kong’s famous Ladies’ Market. It has, according to TripAdvisor, become the city’s most visited attraction. This popular street market is a bargain hunter’s paradise, selling all manner of souvenirs, Chinese handicrafts, clothes and electronic gadgets at knockdown prices. Mong Kok is also home to the Langham Place Mall, a huge 15-storey shopping complex complete with fashion brands, fine restaurants and a cinema.

Besides shopping, the neighbourhood is also a great spot to try some authentic local street food. You’ll find street food stalls dotting Sai Yeung Choi Street, Dundas Street, Fa Yuen Street and Soy Street. They sell traditional, as well as creative Hong Kong-style snacks, including fish ball, takoyaki (octopus ball), stinky tofu, milk tea, siu mai (pork dumpling), and more, and all at very reasonable prices.

While a unique place to explore, living in Mong Kok is another story. The noise, crowds, light pollution and cramped living space don’t make it the most desirable location. Space is at a premium here. Recently, nano-sized flats, some no bigger than a parking space offering 157 square feet, sold for HK$3 million (US$385,000) each.

Mong Kok offers a slice of authentic Hong Kong life and is gritty and real while also vibrant and full of character. A visit here will likely redefine your definition of ‘busy’ too. After all, there’s ordinary busy, and then there’s ‘Mong Kok busy’. It’s a feast for all the senses – a crowded place with always room for one or two more.