By KHT Staff. AI illustration image – not to scale.
KAOHSIUNG — Residents in Fongshan District (鳳山區) are calling for a planned Kaohsiung MRT Yellow Line station to be named Cilaoye (七老爺 – Qīlǎoyé), saying the historic place name should be preserved as the line expands into the area.
The proposal was raised at a local transportation forum organized by Kaohsiung City Councilor Lin Chih-hung (林智鴻), where nearly 100 residents voiced concerns about the future name of Y20 station, the Liberty Times reported.
Lin said MRT station names should reflect local history and community memory. He said he would ask the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Bureau (高雄市政府捷運工程局) to include opinions from local religious leaders, borough chiefs, and residents in the naming process.
The Laoye Borough (老爺里) Chief Li Ching-ya (李菁雅) said station names are not only for navigation, but also represent a community’s cultural identity. She cited maps of Fongshan from both the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese-era evidence that Cilaoye has deep local roots.
Li also raised concerns that construction could worsen traffic on Nanjing Road (南京路), joking that the road could become a “difficult road” because “Nanjing” sounds similar to “hard to pass” in Mandarin. She urged the city to prepare traffic measures before construction begins.
Another Fongshan Borough Chief said many residents were unaware that the planned station location had changed from its earlier spot at the intersection of Nanjing Road and Sinfu Road (新富路). She said city agencies should communicate with residents earlier and plan shuttle or feeder services.
KMRT Bureau Deputy Director Wang Cheng-i (王正一) said the official naming process will not begin until one year before the line opens, but public feedback will be included. He pointed to Caoya Station (草衙站) on the Red Line as an example of an MRT station name that preserved an older local place name.
Wang said Y19 and Y20 stations on Nanjing Road will have barrier-free elevators and escalators on both sides of the road, making access easier for elderly passengers and reducing the need for people to cross the street to enter the station.
He said the bureau hopes contractor selection can proceed smoothly in the second half of next year, allowing construction to begin in 2028.
Lin said he supports including Cilaoye in the station name, adding that the next city administration should listen carefully to local residents before final station names are chosen.
