Xiyu Lighthouse (Yu-Wong Island Lighthouse) Introduction
The Fisherman Island Lighthouse is a designated national historic site. It is located at the west side of the Cape of Yizaiwei in Wai'an Village, Western Islet Township. The sea area to the west is one of the six major currents around Penghu, known as "Xiliu" (including the First Piao, Second Hou, Third Xiliu, Fourth Edou Head, Fifth Tanmen, and Sixth Dongji), which has historically served as a landmark for shipping routes between Taiwan and Xiamen. In the 43rd year of the Qianlong reign (1778), Governor Jiang Yuanshu of Taiwan and Xie Weiqi, the deputy magistrate of the Penghu Grain Defense Office, established the Western Islet Lighthouse here to serve as a navigational marker for ships coming from Xiamen. This was also the first lighthouse built in the Taiwan and Penghu region. According to the existing inscription on the "Western Islet Lighthouse Monument": "Penghu lies between Taiwan and Xiamen, and Western Islet is particularly crucial. When the winds are unstable, merchant ships and vessels must rely on Western Islet for refuge." The importance of constructing the lighthouse at this location can be discerned. Initially, the lighthouse was constructed based on the ancient base, with a foundation five zhang wide, and it consisted of seven levels made of granite, each about seven feet high, designed to be solid and lasting. A long-lasting light was placed at the top. A temple was also built alongside the lighthouse, dedicated to Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea. The temple's abbot would light the lamp at the top of the tower every evening. Due to years of wind damage, in the third year of the Daoguang reign (1823), Penghu Prefectural Magistrate Jiang Yong and Penghu Navy Commander Chen Yuanrong raised funds to repair the lighthouse. However, the light from the oil lamp at the top was too weak to meet international lighthouse standards, prompting countries such as Britain, the United States, Japan, and France to request the Qing government to construct a new style lighthouse. In the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign (1873), an agent from the Fujian Customs Office was sent to Western Islet to acquire land for building a new lighthouse and to rebuild the lighthouse and its associated facilities. In the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign (1874), the customs office hired British engineer David M. Henderson to plan and design the new Western-style lighthouse, transforming the lighthouse into a round cast iron structure, painted white, with an engraved English inscription (DAVID M. HENDERSON 1874) on the triangular door frame above the entrance. Construction began on July 11, 1875, and was completed in November of the same year, with the light officially starting operation on November 18. An foreign technician was employed to manage the lighthouse, and a grave of the daughter of the British personnel who tended the lighthouse remains near the lighthouse's western wall. The completed lighthouse was officially named "Fisherman Island Lighthouse." The new lighthouse stands 11 meters tall, with the light positioned 67.7 meters above sea level. Additionally, a foghorn system with three cannon-like fog signals was installed on the southwestern side to alert passing ships in foggy conditions. During the Japanese colonial period, in addition to operating the equipment from the Qing Dynasty, a louvered meteorological instrument was added. In the 30th year of the Meiji period (1897), a submarine telephone line was laid between Mazu Temple and Fisherman Island Lighthouse, utilizing the military's wired telephone system stationed on Penghu Island, marking the beginning of wired telecommunication in the Taiwan and Penghu area. During World War II, from July 5 to August 7, 1945, the lighthouse was bombed by American aircraft; fortunately, it was only slightly damaged, and continued to operate normally. In 1966, the Fisherman Island Lighthouse was retrofitted with a fourth-order rotating lens light, with an intensity equivalent to 180,000 candlepower, and a range of 25.1 nautical miles. In 1981, two "electric fog signals" were added to enhance navigation safety for vessels during low visibility conditions. Source: National Cultural Heritage Administration. 【Recommended Stay Time】 2 hours
Xiyu Lighthouse (Fisherman's Island Lighthouse)
