RELAY

(04) 3600-8006
8, ZhanQu 2nd Rd, Wurih Village, Taichung County
(Taichung High-Speed Rail Station, 2F)
Hours: 9 am-10 pm
Credit cards accepted.

Catching a bullet train is no longer the only reason for visiting the Taichung High-Speed Rail (HSR) Station, thanks to the opening of what is undoubtedly one of Taichung's best English bookstores there. Located in the terminal's main second-floor lobby, RELAY is Taiwan's first branch of the French-based chain, owned by the HDS Group, and is being followed by similar branches inside the HSR stations in Tsoying (Kaohsiung), Taoyuan, Tainan and Chiayi. The attractive, brightly-lit 92-ping store has red decor highlights and resembles RELAY's other 1,100 stores in international airports and terminals in 17 countries. About 50 percent of the 1,000 book titles it carries are English, including plenty of books you won't find elsewhere in Taichung. Categories include bestsellers, non-fiction, fiction, business (including a lot good China business titles), health, Asian interest, biographies, religion, biographies, and a nice English children's section. In addition, there are 400 magazines, including a good number of English periodicals also unique to RELAY. The store also has a snack bar serving coffees (NT$35-75) and pastries; souvenirs; toys; electronics/communications accessories; stationery; and candy, bottled drinks and snacks. --By Douglas Habecker, translated by Ann Lee