Ketagalan Boulevard

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Ketagalan Boulevard (Traditional Chinese: }), formerly Chieh-shou Road (Chinese: 介壽路, Wade-Giles: Chieh-shou lu, pinyin: Jièshòu Lù), is located in Zhongzheng District in Taipei in Taiwan between the Presidential Building of the Republic of China and the East Gate (東門) of Taipei. The length is 400 m. There are 10 lanes for two-way traffic without traffic islands.

History

Ketagalan has been the name of the Taiwanese aborigines originally living in Taipei Area. Chiehshou (介壽) has been named to mean "Long Live Chiang Kai-shek". On 21 March 1996 when Chen Shui-bian was the mayor of Taipei, Chiehshou Road was renamed Ketagalan Boulevard and the surrounding square was renamed Ketagalan Square to symbolize coming outsiders respecting the Taiwanese aboriginal history and culture. However, Ketagalan Boulevard has been continuously given another level of political meaning and even become the protesting holy land of opposing political parties.

When there was stern atomsphere in front of the Presidential Building, pedestrians had to pass by with their heads lowered. Chiehshou Road and a section of Chungking South Road, Section 1 right in front of the Presidential Building also banned motorcycles and bicycles. When Chiehshou Road was renamed Ketagalan Boulevard, the traffic signs banning motorcycles and bicycles on Ketagalan Boulevard and Chungking South Road, Section 1 were also abolished, considered like "lifting the martial law" (解嚴). When renaming the road, it was also announced that there was no disrespect to Chiang Kai-shek.

Ketagalan Boulevard and the area surrounding the Presidential Building and East Gate has been a popular location in recent years for mass political rallies. For example, after the 2004 presidential election, supporters of the Pan-Blue Coalition not satisfied with the result of the election occupied Ketagalan Boulevard and continuously protested and paraded for one week.

Landmarks

Ketagalan Boulevard is only 400-meter long. Except three buildings and parks, there are no other buildings.

1 Ketagalan Boulevard
*Taipei Guest House ([台北賓館])
2 Ketagalan Boulevard
*Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China ([中華民國外交部])
3 Ketagalan Boulevard
*2-28 Peace Memorial Park ([二二八和平紀念公園])

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