Yuwondau Lighthouse is located at the southwestern point of Yuowondau in Penghu archipelago. Yuwondau Lighthouse, originally called Siyu Lighhouse, was built by the county chief Chiang Yuangshu and administration officer Hsie Weichi with donation funds in 1778 in the Ching Dynasty. The lighthouse is a seven-storey stone tower at the highland of Yuwongdau (Siyu). The lighthouse shone every night to worship the Sea Goddess Matsu whose shrine was in front of the lighthouse, and was also used to guide vessels sailing among Taiwan and Amoy (Siamen) areas. This building was the only one recorded in the historical documents. After the shrine collapsed from disasters caused by strong winds, the lighthouse thus worn down by the years without repair. In 1828, the shrine was repaired and set up staircases in the seven-stored octagonal granite tower. Besides, the tower was built with three-meter lantern with glass curtain walls on the top. The northeastern side was covered. The lantern hang up the No. 8 lead wire with a metal loop to fix the metal boiler. The boiler contained peanut oil and a cotton wick to burn light. The maintenance fee was supported by import duty. The lighthouse still keeps a Stone Inscription of Siyu Lighthouse. |
In 1875, the Customs of the Ching Dynasty built a new-type tubular iron lighthouse with the fourth-class rotated-lens kerosene lamp. The lighthouse shone two flashes consecutively every thirty seconds. The lighthouse was equipped with dorms and kept guarded. In 1915, the lighthouse was re-equipped with the acetylene flashing light, which flashed 1,700-candlepower white light once per five seconds. |
In 1938, the lighthouse was re-equipped with the kerosene incandescent lamp with 52,000 candlepower light. |
During the World War II, the lighthouse was slightly damaged. It was renovated and started service soon after the Recovery of Taiwan. |
In 1966, the lighthouse was re-equipped with the fourth-class rotated-lens electric lamp, which had higher power of 800,000 candlepower. |
In 1981, two electric fog horns were installed. |
The lighthouse is equipped with two-way radio communications devices. |
The lighthouse is ranked as the second-class historical site by the Ministry of the Interior. |
Height of Lighthouse: 11 meters |
Height of Light (above H.W.): 60.7 meters |
Nominal range: 25.1 nautical miles |
