Fisherman Island Lighthouse Introduction
The Fisherman's Island Lighthouse is situated on a high point at the southwestern tip of Xiyu, belonging to Wai'an Village in Xiyu Township. Xiyu Island covers an area of 17.8380 square kilometers and stands approximately 52 meters above sea level. It stands alongside Penghu Main Island and Baisha Island, forming one of the three major islands of the Penghu archipelago. Fisherman's Island refers to Xiyu, the distinction arising from the Portuguese who first labeled it "Fisherman's Island" on nautical maps. Later, military maps from the Dutch and Japanese retained the translation as Fisherman's Island; however, the local ancestors have historically referred to it as "Xiyu" or "Xiyu Head." Throughout the Qing Dynasty and Japanese colonial administrative divisions, it was consistently named Xiyu, as it is located to the west of Penghu Main Island, serving as a navigational landmark for seafaring ancestors from the coastal Fujian and Zhejiang regions. The lighthouse was initially built in 1778 as a seven-tier stone tower, named "Xiyu Tower Lighthouse." It was reconstructed in a Western architectural style in 1875 and renamed "Fisherman's Island Lighthouse," which is its current form. Recently, during its registration as a historic site, it was officially renamed "Xiyu Lighthouse" in response to local community suggestions. The lighthouse is situated on a granite base, with a base diameter of about 2.5 meters. The tower slightly narrows upwards, with a height-to-width ratio of approximately 1:2. Inside, there is a spiral staircase made of iron plates leading to a circular cast-iron lantern and a wind vane at the top. At a height of 6.3 meters above the ground on the exterior of the tower, there is a cast-iron work platform enclosed by iron railings. The lighthouse stands at 11 meters tall, with the light situated 60.7 meters above sea level. Next to the lighthouse, there is a洋樓 (Western-style house) constructed with stone, divided into two levels, featuring a low, four-sloped roof. The eaves extend horizontally over the entrance to a small vestibule, with French-style shutters, showcasing a strong European architectural influence. The Fisherman's Island Lighthouse is equipped with a foghorn and three cast-iron fog cannons installed during the mid-Qing Dynasty, along with an early stone gourd smoke generator. From the lighthouse area, visitors can overlook the sea, with the opportunity to witness the famous Xiyu Current, known as "Xiliu." Among the six major currents of Penghu, "Xiliu" is located south of Wai'an, under the "Xiyu Lighthouse." Approximately 40 minutes before low tide (commonly referred to as the return flow), a series of moon-crescent waves measuring about 100 to 200 meters long can be seen on the water's surface, lasting for 4 to 5 hours until about 2 hours before high tide, when it stops. During the autumn equinox, this becomes a spectacular sight. The iconic white Fisherman's Island Lighthouse appears in the MTV "The Boy in the Tower" by Chen Sheng, representing the boy's feelings of solitude as it silently guards the girl who stands still, with youth gradually slipping away with time. Looking back, memories emerge like the lyrics "it’s just a few autumns," accompanied by the sea breeze and the lighthouse, standing lonely yet steadfast in life. When visiting Penghu, take a moment to spend time with the lighthouse and reflect on whether there have been people in your life whom you wished to cherish but could only keep buried in your memories.
Fisherman's Wharf Lighthouse
Yu-Weng Island Lighthouse
