Fisherman's Wharf Lighthouse Introduction
The Yuangong Island Lighthouse is located on a high ground at the southwestern tip of Xiyu, belonging to the Waian Village of Xiyu Township. The entire area of Xiyu Island is 17.8380 square kilometers with an elevation of approximately 52 meters, standing alongside Penghu Main Island and Baisha Island, making it one of the three major islands in the Penghu archipelago. Yuangong Island refers to Xiyu, with the name distinction originating from the Portuguese, who first labeled it as "Yuangong Island" on naval charts, followed by the Dutch and Japanese who translated it accordingly; however, the ancestors have historically referred to it as "Xiyu" or "Xiyu Head." Throughout the Qing Dynasty and Japanese colonial periods, it was designated as Xiyu, as it is located to the west of the Penghu Main Island, serving as a navigation landmark for early maritime travelers from the Fujian and Zhejiang coasts of China. The lighthouse was first constructed in 1778 as a seven-level stone tower named "Xiyu Tower." In 1875, it was reconstructed in a Western architectural style and renamed "Yuangong Island Lighthouse," which is currently visible. In recent years, when it was registered as a historic site, it was officially renamed "Xiyu Lighthouse" in response to local suggestions. The lighthouse stands on a granite base with a bottom diameter of approximately 2.5 meters; the tower body slightly recedes upwards, with a height ratio of about 1:2 between the top and the tower body. Inside the tower, there is a spiral iron staircase leading to a circular cast-iron lantern cover and wind vane. At a height of 6.3 meters above the ground, there is a cast iron working platform surrounded by iron railings. The tower is 11 meters high, and the light is situated at 60.7 meters above sea level. Next to the lighthouse is an洋樓 (Western-style building) constructed from stone, divided into two levels: the roof features a low and gentle four-sided slope, while the eaves extend horizontally into a small entrance alcove. The window shutters exhibit a French style, reflecting a strong European architectural influence. The Yuangong Island Lighthouse is equipped with a foghorn and three cast-iron fog cannons from the Qing Dynasty, retaining early stone smoke stacks for use. From the lighthouse park, there are spectacular sea views, offering opportunities to observe the famous Xiyu Current, known as "Xiliu." Among the six major currents in Penghu—"Yingxiao, Erhou, Sanxiliu, Si’eadou, Wutamen, and Liudongji"—the "Xiliu" is located in the southern waters beneath the "Xiyu Lighthouse" at Waian. As the dry tide approaches and 40 minutes before the tide starts (commonly referred to as the backflow), rows of lunar arc waves appear, stretching about 100-200 meters and lasting for 4-5 hours, only ceasing about 2 hours before high tide. This phenomenon is particularly wondrous during the autumn equinox. The lighthouse also appears in the MTV "The Boy in the Tower" by Chen Sheng, featuring the white-shaped Yuangong Island Lighthouse as a symbol of a boy's lonely memories, silently guarding a girl, while youth gradually fades with time. Looking back, those memories are like the lyrics, "It’s just a few autumns," flowing with the sea breeze and lighthouse; they stand firm yet lonely, shimmering in life. When visiting Penghu, consider spending a brief time with the lighthouse, reminiscing whether there has been someone in your life whom you wish to hold onto but can only keep buried in your memories.
Fisherman's Wharf Lighthouse
Fisherman's Island Lighthouse
