Fisherman's Island Lighthouse

Fisherman's Island Lighthouse

Fisherman's Island Lighthouse is a cultural tourism attraction.

Fisherman's Island Lighthouse is located at the southwestern tip of Xiyu Township, Penghu County, Taiwan, and is the oldest lighthouse in Taiwan. The site was originally the location of the Xiyu Tower Light, which was first established in the 43rd year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign during the Qing Dynasty. It was an octagonal, seven-tiered stone tower made of granite, with a light burning nightly atop the structure.

Fisherman's Island Lighthouse is built on a granite platform, with a base diameter of about 2.5 meters, a tower height of 11 meters, and a light height of 60.7 meters. It features a spiral iron stairway inside. The tower slightly tapers inward as it rises, consisting of a circular iron structure painted white on the outside, making it the earliest Western-style lighthouse constructed in the Taiwan region. The triangular lintel above the entrance bears raised cast English lettering reading “D-ID M. HENDERSON 1874,” the signature of the lighthouse’s designer, David Marr Henderson. In the courtyard, there are also three well-preserved stone steles: the “Inscription for the Construction of Xiyu Tower Light” erected in the 43rd year of Qianlong (1778), the “Inscription for the Completion of the Renovation of Xiyu Tower Light” from the 44th year (1779), and the “Inscription for Xiyu Tower Light” from the 8th year of the Daoguang Emperor’s reign (1828).

In addition, next to the lighthouse there is also a Western-style building constructed of stone blocks. It has two floors, with a gently sloping, four-sided roof, and a horizontal eaves cornice that projects slightly over the small entrance vestibule. The shutters are designed in the French style, giving the structure a distinctly European architectural flair.

Yuweng Island Lighthouse

Must-visit reason: Taiwan’s oldest lighthouse