Taiwan’s High-Speed Rail — Gaotie — is more than just a train; it’s a symbol. It marks the first time Japan’s Shinkansen technology was exported overseas. Standing on the platform at Taichung Station, I looked up at the sleek white-and-orange body of the train and was struck by how familiar it looked — the unmistakable silhouette of the Tokaido Shinkansen.
In the windows, I saw reflections of passengers glued to their smartphones, and the urban backdrop of Taichung. But for a moment, it tricked my senses. Was this Shinagawa? Odawara? The shape of the train was so familiar, it made me forget where I was.
Stepping inside, the illusion deepened. The 2+3 seat arrangement, the chime of the doors, the bilingual announcements in English and the local language — even the window frames evoked déjà vu. Yet when I listened closely, all the conversations around me were in Chinese. It was only then, with a slight delay, that the reality of travel settled in — not as a sudden jolt, but as a slow, settling awareness: I’m somewhere new.
Jun 2025 TAIWAN VEHICLE | |
CAR WINDOW CITYSCAPE REFLECTION TAICHUNG TRAIN |
No
12854
Shooting Date
Dec 2024
Posted On
June 18, 2025
Place
Taichung, Taiwan
Genre
Railway Photography
Camera
IPHONE 14 PRO