Xi Yu Lighthouse (Fisherman Island Lighthouse) Introduction
The Fisherman Island Lighthouse is a national historic site. It is located at the cape of Xiwei on the west side of Wai'an Village in the Xiyu Township. The western waters of this area are home to "West Flow," one of the six major swirls in Penghu (including Yanzai, Erhou, Sanxiliu, Sidangtou, Tantoumen, and Dongji), which has historically served as a navigational landmark for vessels traveling between Taiwan and Xiamen. In the 43rd year of the Qianlong reign (1778), the governor of Taiwan, Jiang Yuanshu, along with Xie Weiqi, the chief officer of the Penghu Grain Protection and Fishing Administration, built the Xiwei Lighthouse to serve as a navigational reference point for ships arriving from Xiamen. This was also the first lighthouse constructed in the Taiwan and Penghu region. The existing inscription on the "Establishment of the Xiwei Lighthouse" stone tablet states: "Penghu is situated between Taiwan and Xiamen, and Xiwei is particularly crucial. When the wind is adverse, government and merchant ships always rely on Xiwei as a harbor." This highlights the importance of establishing the Xiwei Lighthouse in this location. Initially, the structure of the Xiwei Lighthouse, according to the inscription, was built on the ancient base of the isle, expanding its lower foundation to a width of five meters, and the lighthouse tower was built in seven tiers of stone, each about seven feet high, solidly constructed to ensure its durability. A long-lasting light was placed on top…. A tower temple was also built beside the lighthouse, dedicated to the sea goddess Matsu, and it was the temple's resident monk who would light the beacon at dusk. Due to repeated damage from storms over the years, Jiang Yong, the Penghu chief officer, along with Chen Yuanrong of the Penghu Military, raised funds in the 3rd year of the Daoguang reign (1823) to repair the Xiwei Lighthouse. However, the light from the oil lamp at the top was insufficient to meet the international light intensity standards required for lighthouses, prompting countries such as England, the United States, Japan, and France to request that the Qing government construct a new-style lighthouse. In the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign (1873), the Customs General of Fujian sent representatives to Xiwei to acquire land for building a new lighthouse and to reconstruct the lighthouse and its associated facilities. In the 13th year of Tongzhi (1874), an engineer from England named David M. Henderson was hired to design a new Western-style lighthouse with a round cast-iron structure, painted white on the outer surface. Above the triangular entrance, the inscription "David M. Henderson 1874" is embossed. Construction began on July 11, 1875, and was completed in November of the same year. The lights were first turned on on November 18, and foreign personnel were hired to manage the lighthouse. A tomb of the daughter of the British staff who maintained the lighthouse still exists on the western side of the lighthouse wall. A cross-shaped tombstone bears the name "Nelly O'Driscoll." After the lighthouse was completed and lit, it was officially named the "Fisherman Island Lighthouse." The newly constructed Fisherman Island Lighthouse stands 11 meters tall, with the light at a height of 67.7 meters. At the southwest side of the lighthouse, two fog horns were also established to alert passing ships in foggy conditions. During the Japanese occupation, the existing lighthouse equipment continued to be operated, and a louvered meteorological observatory was added. In 1897, a submarine telephone line was installed between Magong and the Fisherman Island Lighthouse using communication equipment from the Japanese military stationed on Penghu Island, marking the inception of wired telephone connections in the Taiwan and Penghu area. During World War II, from July 5 to August 7, 1945, the lighthouse was lightly damaged by U.S. bomber attacks but continued to operate normally. In 1966, the Fisherman Island Lighthouse was upgraded with a Type 4 rotating lens electric light, illuminating with an intensity of 180,000 candela and a range of 25.1 nautical miles. In 1981, two additional electronic fog horns were installed to enhance navigation safety for vessels in low visibility conditions. Source: National Cultural Heritage Administration [Recommended stay duration: 2 hours]
Xiyu Lighthouse (Fisherman Island Lighthouse)
