Baisha Cape Lighthouse Introduction
Baisha Cape Lighthouse is located on the Guanyin Coast. Before the construction of the Guozheng Lighthouse in Tainan, it was the westernmost lighthouse on the main island of Taiwan. Surrounding it is a circular trail, and visitors can also explore the Guanyin coastal recreation area. The lighthouse, with its pristine white tower, stands out even more between the blue sea and sky. Since it was lit and put into service in 1901, it has been a famous scenic spot in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. After more than a century, it was designated as one of the "100 Historical Buildings in Taiwan" by the Council for Cultural Affairs in 2001. The lighthouse structure, its surrounding wall, and the sundial from the Japanese occupation period were announced as Taoyuan's first county-designated historic site, and in May 2021, it was announced as Taoyuan's second national designated historic site, making it the most well-preserved lighthouse from the early Japanese colonial period in Taiwan. The Baisha Cape Lighthouse stands approximately 37 meters tall, making it the second tallest lighthouse next to the Eluanbi Lighthouse in Kenting. What makes this lighthouse unique is that it is the only lighthouse in Taiwan built using red bricks and stones, differing from other lighthouses in Taiwan that are made of concrete. During the late Qing dynasty, most of the lighthouse equipment was imported from Britain and France. The manufacturer first cast the components such as the tower body and lighting fixtures, and then transported them by ship to the designated location for assembly, which took three years to complete. However, the Baisha Cape Lighthouse was not assembled from cast iron; instead, it employed a special double-layer brick-stone seismic structure, referred to in Japanese as "renga sekizō." The upper section of the brick circular lighthouse supports a cast-iron tower top using large stone blocks, and it has survived heavy aircraft bombardments during World War II as well as multiple earthquakes and storms without severe damage. Today, the lighthouse still stands tall, illuminating the Taiwan Strait and safeguarding maritime vessels. The construction and internal facilities of the lighthouse span over a century, and it retains features such as a sundial from the Japanese colonial period, which can be used to determine time, direction, and latitude based on the shadows cast by the sun, and once played a crucial role in the operation of the lighthouse. Additionally, there is a clock manufactured by the Shanghai Machine Works and a century-old chinaberry tree that has stood since the Japanese era, still robust and majestic in the garden. This beacon of the Taiwan Strait is surrounded by a tranquil environment that features small bridges, flowing water, rice fields, and ponds, as well as wooden walkways and cool paths. The lighthouse itself provides an excellent backdrop for photographs, and bicycles can be parked nearby as visitors walk into the park area. Within the park, there is a guided tour room that allows visitors to better understand the various equipment inside the lighthouse. Surrounding the lighthouse, there are a circular trail, a park, pavilions, a square, and children's playground facilities. The trail runs along the banks of the Guanyin River and offers distant views of the famous windmill scenery along the Guanyin coastline. The Bell Tower Square and the footbridge over the Guanyin River are great locations for wedding photography.
