The former name of this street is Chieh-shou Road, Chieh-shou meaning "Long live Chiang Kai-shek". On May 19, 1989 a pro-democracy activist named Chan I-hua performed self-immolation to protest the blocking of funeral procession of fellow activist Cheng Nan-jung. On 21 March 1996, when Chen Shui-bian was the mayor of Taipei, Chieh-shou Road was renamed Ketagalan Boulevard and the surrounding square was renamed Ketagalan Square in honor of the Ketagalan Taiwanese aborigines originally living in the Taipei area. However, Ketagalan Boulevard has been given other levels of political meaning and has even become the protesting holy land of opposing political parties. Back when there was stern atmosphere in front of the Presidential Office Building, pedestrians had to pass by with their heads lowered. Motorcycles and bicycles were banned from Chieh-shou Road and a section of ChongqingSouth Road right in front of the Presidential Office Building. When Chieh-shou Road was renamed Ketagalan Boulevard, the traffic signs banning motorcycles and bicycles on Ketagalan Boulevard and Chongqing South Road were removed, reminiscent of "lifting martial law". When renaming the road, it was announced that there was no disrespect intended to former PresidentChiang Kai-shek. Ketagalan Boulevard and the area surrounding the Presidential Office Building and East Gate is a popular location 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, protesting and parading for an entire week. In the wake of the renaming of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall by the DPP administration, Taipei MayorHau Lung-pin proposed to rename the section of Ketagalan Boulevard between the Presidential Office Building and Gongyuan Road Anti-Corruption Democracy Square after the 2006 protests. However, there has not been any further debate about this name change since the renaming of the CKS Memorial Hall. In February 2017, the Indigenous Ketagalan Boulevard Protest, surrounding the delineation of traditional lands, started on the Boulevard.
Landmarks
Ketagalan Boulevard is 400 meters long. Along the road are three buildings, two parks and two parking lots. Among them are:
