Claim: Video shows state of the art train transporting children directly into their homes in China.
Fact: The video was likely created using artificial intelligence or special effects, and it has no connection to reality.
On 6 August, an Instagram user “molly_____travel” posted a video (archive) apparently showing an advanced bullet train, transporting a child to their home. The superimposed text says, “This is China.”
The caption states, “Witnessing the cutting-edge technology in China! 🚀”
A tube emerges from the underground, which delivers a young boy directly into the living room of his home. The post speculates the existence of this state of the art bullet train in China.
Fact or Fiction?
A close examination of the video suggests that it was either AI-generated or created using sophisticated editing techniques. In either case, Soch Fact Check found the video has no basis in reality.
We noted three words are plastered on the underground tube carrying the young boy. Roughly translated from Chinese, the inscription states, “Kindergarten special car.” We also found similar footage from November 2022, showing a different house with a tube emerging from the underground train. The same three words are plastered on the tube here as well. We conducted a keyword search of the phrase but found no evidence of the existence of such technology.
However, we found a short 13-second YouTube clip “Kindergarten special car drives into the house💥specialeffects|3D Animation,” from August 2024. This video depicts a similar train with the words “Kindergarten special car” etched on the tube. The graphics of the train are animated, and the description states, “This is a creative haven for special effects video sharing. Through our videos, we showcase various exciting special effects production processes and effects, allowing you to experience the magic and fun of special effects.” This led us to conclude that the video in the claim also was created similarly, as an exercise in imagination.
Additionally, some travel guides said that children under the age of 12 or 14 cannot travel alone on trains in China. Therefore, a young boy traveling alone on a state-of-the-art train to reach home is unlikely.
A channel called EASGadget Shorts on YouTube posted the video in the claim from October 2023 with the title “Do you think this will be possible.” The voiceover in the video described the possibility of such technology existing in the future, a further indication that the scenario depicted within has no basis in reality and is merely imaginative in nature.
Moreover, the graphics that depict the child being delivered directly to his living room from an underground tube seem unrealistic compared to the more tangible surroundings of the living room. This inconsistency adds an element of artificiality, and suggests that the video was created using special effects.
Virality
The Instagram post garnered 496,622 likes.
A similar version of the claim appeared here in March 2023.
On Instagram, a different version surfaced previously in November 2022 here.
Conclusion: The video showing a bullet train transporting children directly to their homes in China was created using special effects and has no basis in reality.
Background image in cover photo: Yahoo Tech
To appeal against our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com