Xiyu Lighthouse, Maritime navigation lighthouse in Wai'an Village, Taiwan
Xiyu Lighthouse is a cylindrical cast iron structure painted white, standing on elevated ground above the village and visible from considerable distances. The tower features a balcony mid-way up its shaft and a lantern assembly at its peak that historically guided ships along the coast.
An earlier stone pagoda lighthouse operated from 1778 until it was replaced by the current iron structure in 1875, representing a major technological shift in the region's navigation systems. This new tower was designed and built by a British engineer who brought modern construction methods to the Taiwanese coast.
The lighthouse bears a name rooted in the local geography of the western islands and reflects the area's maritime identity. Visitors can observe how such structures have been woven into the fabric of coastal life and navigation traditions.
The lighthouse sits in a rural location, so visitors should budget travel time from the nearest village to reach it. The site is open and exposed to coastal winds, so come prepared with weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes for exploring the grounds.
When first constructed in 1875, the tower was painted black rather than the white color visitors see today, which came from a renovation decades later. This detail surprises many people who assume such lighthouses were always painted white, the traditional maritime color.
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