Bitoujiao Lighthouse, Maritime beacon at Bitou Cape, Taiwan
Bitoujiao Lighthouse is a white cylindrical concrete tower on a clifftop along Taiwan's northeastern coastline, designed to guide vessels through the coastal shipping lanes. The tower has two balconies and a glass lantern room at the top, standing above a rocky headland that drops directly into the sea.
The first lighthouse here was built in 1897 during Japanese colonial rule, taking the form of a hexagonal iron structure. It was destroyed during World War II and replaced in 1971 by the concrete tower that stands today.
The name Bitou means nose tip in Chinese, referring to the pointed shape of the headland where the lighthouse stands. Walking along the trail, the land does indeed narrow to a sharp point jutting out over the sea.
The lighthouse is reached on foot via trails starting near Bitou Elementary School, passing through coastal forest and along cliff edges. Sturdy shoes are recommended since the path can be uneven and runs close to the cliff edge in places.
The concrete tower that replaced the original was planned to follow the same hexagonal shape as its 19th-century predecessor, but the design was changed to the cylindrical form during construction. In the early morning, when light falls at a low angle across the cliff face, the rock layers become clearly visible and easy to read.
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