Dongmen Lighthouse and the Tomb of the Ren Brothers

Dongmen Lighthouse and the Tomb of the Ren Brothers

Dongmen Lighthouse and the Tomb of the Ren Brothers are cultural heritage sites protected by Xiangshan County.

A circular stone structure covering an area of approximately 9 square meters. The outer diameter is 3.3 meters, divided into upper and lower levels. The lower level is 5.59 meters high, surrounded by a wall made of rough stones 0.25 meters thick, with a door on the west side. The upper level is 2.08 meters high, without walls, supported by eight wooden pillars holding up an umbrella-shaped roof, of which four pillars remain. At the top of the umbrella is a spherical structure, which served as the lamp housing. Restored in 1999.

Ren Xiauhe (1876–1944) and Ren Xiaofu (also known as Ren Fu) (1879–1953) were brothers from the same mother, natives of Dongmen Village. They regarded all local public welfare initiatives, regardless of difficulty, distance, or proximity, as their personal responsibility. In 1915, they purchased a mountain at the entrance of Dongmen Island and built a lighthouse to facilitate maritime navigation. Cai Yuanpei, who took refuge in Xiangshan and visited Dongmen, inscribed the phrase “Exiting its eastern gate, the boundary shines bright.” Thereafter, the brothers raised funds to build multiple lighthouses in Taizhou, Zhoushan, and Xiangshan, and undertook countless good deeds such as bridge repairs, road construction, and dock building. The brothers were of one mind and tireless until old age—an extraordinary feat that earned them the title “The Two Paragons” (二难). Their tomb faces south and consists of an altar and burial mound, constructed from strip-shaped stone blocks, with a total area of about 37 square meters. The horizontal tombstone is inscribed with “Tomb of the Ren Brothers Xiauhe and Xiaofu, the Two Paragons.” The sides and top of the tombstone are adorned with delicate carvings of flowers and animals.

These two structures are located in close proximity and hold practical significance for developing Xiangshan’s Golden Coast tourism, promoting marine culture, and celebrating the virtue of “charitable deeds for the common good.”