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The Yungwang Island Lighthouse is a nationally designated historic site. It is located on the western side of Wangan Village, Xiyu Township, at the cape of Yizuiwei Point. The waters west of this point are one of Penghu’s six major currents, known as the “West Current” (including the “First Flow,” “Second Roar,” “Third West Flow,” “Fourth Goose Bean Head,” “Fifth Tannmen,” and “Sixth Dongji”). Since ancient times it has served as a navigational marker for ships traveling between Taiwan and Xiamen. In the 43rd year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1778), the Governor of Taiwan, Jiang Yuanshu, and the Penghu Food Defense and Patrol Commissioner, Xie Weiqi, established the Xiyu Lighthouse to use Xiyu as a navigation aid for vessels coming eastward from Xiamen. This was the first lighthouse built in the Taiwan–Penghu region. From the existing “Monument of the Establishment of the Xiyu Lighthouse,” the inscription reads: “Between Penghu and Xiamen, Xiyu is especially important. Whenever the wind and tide are unpredictable, officials, merchants, and ships all turn to Xiyu for shelter.” This shows the significance of building the lighthouse at this site. When the lighthouse was first constructed, the stone foundation was based on the island’s ancient cliff base. The lower part of the tower was five shaku (about 1.5 m) wide, with a seven-level stone wall. Each level was seven shaku tall, made of sturdy stone and intended to last forever. At the top, a long-lasting light was installed… The tower also had a temple on its side, where the Goddess Mazu was worshipped. The temple’s caretaker lit the lamp at the top of the tower every night. The Xiyu Lighthouse suffered repeated wind damage over the years. In the 3rd year of the Daoguang reign (1823), Penghu’s Commissioner, Jiang Yong, along with the Penghu naval commander, Chen Yuanrong, raised funds to rebuild the lighthouse. However, the oil lamp at the top produced insufficient light to meet international standards, so countries such as the UK, USA, Japan, and France requested the construction of a new style lighthouse. In the 12th year of Emperor Tongzhi’s reign (1873), the Chief Customs Tax Office in Fujian sent agents to Xiyu, purchased land, and rebuilt the lighthouse and its auxiliary facilities. In the 13th year (1874), the same office hired the British engineer Hans Dennis (DAVID M. HENDERSON) to design a Western-style lighthouse. The tower was rebuilt as a round cast‑iron structure, painted white. A triangular lintel above the entrance bears an embossed English inscription, “DAVID M. HENDERSON 1874.” Construction began on July 11, 1875, and the tower was completed in November of the same year. It began regular operation on November 18, with a foreign keeper stationed to guard the lighthouse. On the western side of the lighthouse wall, near the cape, the grave of the daughter of the British keeper still stands, marked by a cross‑shaped tombstone inscribed “Nelly O’Driscoll.” Once the lighthouse was operational, it was officially named the “Yungwang Island Lighthouse.” The new lighthouse stands 11 m tall, with a light at a height of 67.7 m. Three foghorns were added on the southwest side to sound an alarm when fog obscures visibility. During the Japanese occupation, the lighthouse continued to use the Qing‑era equipment, and a sliding‑window meteorological instrument was added. In the 30th year of the Meiji era (1897), the Japanese stationed a telephone line from the Penghu Islands to the Yungwang Island Lighthouse, laying an underwater cable between the Mazu temple and the lighthouse—an early instance of wired telephony in the Taiwan–Penghu area. During World War II, between July 5 and August 7, 1945 (Showa 20), the lighthouse was attacked by U.S. bombing aircraft. Fortunately, damage was minimal and the lighthouse continued to operate normally. In 1966 (Republic of China year 55), the lighthouse was upgraded with a fourth‑order rotating Fresnel lens lamp, producing 180,000 candelas and a range of 25.1 nautical miles. In 1981 (ROC 70), two additional “electrical fog signals” were installed to improve safety for ships navigating in low‑visibility conditions. Source: National Cultural Asset Network【Suggested Visit Duration】 2 hours