The land that propped up the former Kai Tak Airport was no more than a swath of water in the early 20th century. At that time Kowloon Bay was a real bay surrounded by lush greenery, as the neighbouring Kowloon City, Ma Tau Wai, Po Kong and Ngau Tau Kok were thick with hillocks, villages and farmlands that bordered the shallow shores. The indigenous people identified the northern coast of Kowloon Bay as Ngau Chi Wan, which was a natural wetland densely grown with mangroves. Farther away, Kwun Tong was an upland area, bleak, barren and precipitous.