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Taiwan Tourism Part 1: Changhua Roundhouse

2025年11月9日 15:20

A journey exploring central Taiwan bit by bit.
I will record the places I visited on a whim during my days off between work.

📖 Table of Contents

An Accidental Departure

Before heading to Taichung, I stopped by Changhua.
The reason I went was simple: when I arrived at the station, I didn't want to wait for the train.
At that moment, I spotted a Tze-Chiang Limited Express (a Taiwan Railways express train) stopped at the platform.
Thinking, "I can get to Taichung on this," I hopped on.

However, this was the Coastal Line route.
What's more, it doesn't stop in Taichung.
I found out about this halfway through and panicked a little.
Honestly, Taiwan's railway system is just too complicated (lol).

Mountain Line and Coastal Line

There are two routes in the central section of the Taiwan Railways: the "Mountain Line" and the "Coastal Line."
The Mountain Line is the main route that passes through the inland area, connecting cities like Taichung and Miaoli.
On the other hand, the Coastal Line is a branch line that runs along the Taiwan Strait, passing by industrial zones and fishing ports.

Usually, the Mountain Line is the standard, but that day I accidentally chose the Coastal Line.
But in the end, it turned out to be a good thing.
The sea spread out beyond the window, and the hustle and bustle of the city faded away.
The train ran so close that I could almost hear the sound of the waves, and I never got tired of watching it.

An accidental choice makes a trip interesting.
It was that kind of time.

The "fan-shaped building" I saw before getting off the train

As the train approached Changhua Station, I saw buildings arranged in a circle outside the window.
I wondered, "What is that?" and when I looked it up, I found it was the Changhua Roundhouse.
Finding out that a place I just happened to pass by was actually a famous, active facility of the Taiwan Railways, I changed my plans and decided to get off midway.

Changhua Roundhouse

Twelve tracks radiate toward a central turntable, and the engine shed spreads out in a fan shape. Each stall is numbered from 1 to 12, with chimneys lined up on top. The structure itself possesses an industrial beauty.

Active Locomotives

An orange diesel locomotive is preparing to enter the shed. Families and railway fans were nearby with their cameras ready. Even though it is a tourist facility, the sounds of maintenance and the smell of oil linger, allowing you to feel the atmosphere of a "working site."

Seeing it lined up with a new white train was impressive. With old locomotives and new vehicles in the same space, it looks as if time is intersecting.

Turntable — The Rotating Center

A huge turntable in the center. It is a mechanism for loading vehicles and changing their direction, and it is still in actual operation today. It is a structure that is exciting just to watch.

Railway Heritage in the City

Outside the premises, there is a steam locomotive monument made of bricks. Parents and children were taking commemorative photos, and it has become like a landmark of the city.

A quiet town and the ever-moving railway

Looking down from above, it looks just like a 'railway flower'.
The whole town is laid-back, and I felt as if time was flowing slowly only here.

I'm glad I was able to stop at a place like this before heading to a big city like Taichung.
It was like a resting place for the heart, caught between movement and stillness.

I will write down the small discoveries I made during my trip little by little.
Continuing to Taiwan Tourism 2: Taichung National Museum of Natural Science.