Dongyong Lighthouse (Dongyin Island Lighthouse) Introduction
The East Yung Lighthouse, also known as the Dongyin Lighthouse, is located on the hillside of Shihwei Mountain—at the extreme eastern part of the Matsu Archipelago, and is also called the North Border Lighthouse. The pure white brick structure stands 13 meters tall and exudes an 18th-century European architectural style, perched on a cliff. The construction of the East Yung Lighthouse originated from an incident in the 27th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign (around 1901), when the 450-foot ship "Soo Boo" sank near East Yung after running aground. Although the passengers and cargo were unharmed, the shipping company suffered significant losses. With the opening of Sandu Harbor leading to a doubling of import and export trade, the construction of the East Yung Lighthouse was finally facilitated. In 1988, it was designated as a national third-class historic site by the Council for Cultural Affairs and was elevated to a national historic site in 2016, making it the northernmost historic site in the Taiwan-Fujian region. In the early days, the lighthouse was located in a restricted area, and the lighthouse keeper was required to live there with their family. To provide food for the staff, chicken coops and pigsties were also established. During times of scarcity, people outside admired the lighthouse keepers, which led to the area being referred to as "East Yung Villa." At the edge of the cliff below the lighthouse, two fog guns were installed, and a foghorn has since been added to replace the fog guns as navigational aids. The lighthouse faces the East China Sea, with its white shape standing out against the deep blue waters below, creating a captivating scene. Visitors can find this lighthouse by winding up along a low white cement railing. Note: To reach the East Yung Lighthouse, vehicles must be parked at the parking lot at the end of the road, and then visitors must walk along the trail from the bottom of the mountain, passing by Leigushih and Taibaitiansheng to reach the entrance of the lighthouse.
