aeeble

The East Jyu Island Lighthouse, a pristine white lighthouse that has stood for over a century under azure skies and sapphire seas in the northeastern part of East Jyu Island, was originally built during the Tongzhi era (1872) as a response by the Qing Dynasty to the Opium Wars' defeats and the Treaty of Nanking with Britain, which opened coastal trade routes. The lighthouse aids in identifying the direction of Fuzhou. In 1988, it was designated a second-class cultural heritage site in the Taiwan-Min region by the Ministry of the Interior and marked as the first lighthouse in Taiwan constructed with granite. The lighthouse is painted snow-white, standing approximately 19.5 meters tall. With its light refracted through a pearl-shaped crystal lens, it can reach up to 16.7 nautical miles (about 31 kilometers). Standing diligently on East Jyu Island for over a century, the East Jyu Island Lighthouse shines its fixed signals of one long and two short flashes every night. A notable feature is the 30-meter-long white windbreak wall connecting the lighthouse and the office—due to the strong winds on the elevated site, workers can crouch under the wall to pass swiftly, preventing their kerosene lamps from being extinguished by the gusts in ancient times. The White Hair City – Lighthouse Artifact Exhibition Hall Open since June 2008, the lighthouse artifact exhibition hall features a long white windbreak wall locally known as the “White Hair City.” With its British-style architecture and rich collection of lighthouse artifacts, it enriches lighthouse tourism and is a must-visit destination. The Big Cannon Connection – A Blue Tears Viewing Spot Connected to the East Jyu Island Lighthouse, the Big Cannon Connection was once a military stronghold. The hundreds-of-meter-long coastal encampment, featuring bunkers and howitzers, has now become one of Matsu’s military scenic sites open to the public. A wooden-fenced trail leads to a secluded viewing platform at the end, where the Blue Tears’ glowing beauty can be observed at night. Note: East Jyu Island has a rocky terrain, and insufficient lighting at night poses dangers. Visitors are advised not to go alone and to travel with a guided tour when viewing Blue Tears.