Yushan Island

Yushan Island

Known as the "No. 1 Fishing Ground in Asia," the Yushan Archipelago is located 27 nautical miles (approximately 45 kilometers) southeast of Shipu. The area features scattered islets and reefs, with crystal-clear waters. Situated at the convergence of northern and southern ocean currents, it boasts abundant resources of fish, shellfish, and algae, totaling over 300 types of marine specialties.

The Yushan Archipelago is a great place for leisure, vacationing, sea fishing, swimming, camping, and shell collecting. Air-raid shelters are visible all over the island, and attractions include a lighthouse, Fairy Bridge, Broken City Summit, wartime caves, and fishing villages. On nights with many visitors, bonfire barbecues are often held.

The first impression of Yushan Island is its fresh air, which is refreshing and uplifting. The blue sky and deep blue sea set off the beauty of the island even more. Located in the eastern part of Maotouyang, the island group consists of 13 islands and 41 reefs, arranged from northeast to southwest, spanning 7.5 kilometers from north to south and 4.5 kilometers from southeast to northwest, covering a total area of about 5 square kilometers. Among them, South Yushan is the largest, while Five Tiger Reefs stand majestically along the coastline, marking the baseline of China’s territorial waters. The so-called Five Tiger Reefs, as seen from the main island, are actually composed of 11 reefs of varying sizes, stretching from south to north.

The Five Tiger Reefs that visitors see on the island are, in fact, Fuhu Reef (including the adjacent Zihu Reef), Jianhu Reef, Gaohu Reef (an island), Pinghu Reef, and Laohushi Reef. These “Five Tigers,” rising and falling amid the turbulent waves, appear even more majestic. At high tide, they resemble pearls floating on the azure sea, looking delicate and lovely, leaving an unforgettable impression on visitors.

Most visitors prefer to go to North Yushan Island, which covers only 0.5 square kilometers and is one of the islands in the Yushan Archipelago. The island is higher in the south and lower in the north, with the highest point reaching an elevation of 83.4 meters. It has a lighthouse atop, and due to its long history, climbing to the southern peak to view the lighthouse has become the main activity for tourists visiting North Yushan. The Yushan Lighthouse is a vital passage for ships traveling north and south through the Yushan sea area and is also a beautiful scenic attraction. There are two lighthouses on Yushan Island, both cylindrical in shape and red-and-white in color, standing 16.9 meters tall with a diameter of 4 meters. The lighthouses emit a white flash every 30 seconds, visible up to 26 nautical miles away. The other lighthouse is a modern solar-powered structure designed and manufactured in China, featuring an all-steel frame. It is taller and slimmer than the old lighthouse, creating a charming contrast between the tall and short, stout and slim towers.