Eluanbi

1881-1882

1883

Taiwan

1st order

Fixed

Inactive

White cast iron tower, with balcony 21.4m high. It has extra defensive openings if under attack

Lantern

Built in 1881-1882 under the supervision of John Reginald Harding in hostile territory. As related in his book' A brief description of the erection of a 1st order lighthouse on the South Cape of Formosa' web page given below. It was constructed within a compound, at a location where there were frequent earthquakes. It is known as the 'The Lighthouse of East Asia' because its light is the most intense of those on Taiwan.

Shipwrecks were common around Cape Eluanbi in the early modern era owing to the nearby Qixingyan reefs and strong currents. The hostile native reactions to these accidents rose to the level of international incidents in the case of the Rover and a Ryukyu convoy, which prompted invasions from the United States and Japan in 1867 and 1874. In the latter case, the Qing Dynasty explicitly disavowed responsibility for native-held areas on Taiwan Island, creating a power vacuum that threatened Japanese or European colonization of the region. Following the advice of Charles Le Gendre, the American consul at Xiamen (then known as "Amoy"), the Viceroy of Liangjiang, Shen Baozhen, began constructing coastal defenses to improve the situation.

Construction of the Eluanbi Lighthouse fell under the purview of the British diplomat Robert Hart, inspector general of the Imperial Maritime Customs Service. He sent agents to purchase the southern cape from the leaders of the Kuie Chia Chiao, Guīzǎijiǎo) in 1875. Construction began in 1881. Although Shen largely favored French officers Hart placed construction of the Eluanbi works under the English engineer John Reginald Harding and architect W. F. Spindey. 500 soldiers sent to protect it. Native opposition from the Paiwan and other local indigenous tribes was severe and sustained. The structure was the only armed lighthouse on the island, surrounded by a 6 m (20 ft) fosse provided with caponiers and barbed-wire fencing. It was riddled with gunports to allow its garrison to repel assaults. Work was finished in early 1883 and the tower began operation on 1 April. George Taylor assisted with construction after its first year and served as its first lightkeeper until 1889. He maintained close relations with the Paiwan and even became proficient in their language, but was also protected by 16 Chinese soldiers under a German officer. Their arsenal included two 18-pounder cannons, two Gatling guns, and a Cohon mortar; and they maintained food and water provisions capable of lasting a three-month siege. The station also kept a team of laborers and kitchen staff on site.

The first tower was 15 m (50 ft) high and cast iron. It was 6 m (19.5 ft) in diameter at the base and 4 m (12.66 ft) at the top. The lantern included revolving steel shutters to protect the glass from attack, and its gallery included gunports for rifles and one of the fort's Gatling guns. The foreign staff had spacious brick bungalows whose rooms were connected by bulletproof corridors to the 4 m2 (40 sq ft) fort; they stayed in quarters inside the tower during assaults. The Chinese staff lived in the fort at all times and maintained its kitchen, armory, storerooms, and underground cisterns.

During the First Sino-Japanese War (25 July 1894-17 April 1895), the lighthouse was severely damaged by attack and then from sabotage by its retreating Qing garrison. After the Treaty of Shimonoseki gave Japan control of the island, colonial officials first repaired the lighthouse in 1898 and then installed a stronger light in 1910.

During World War II, the lighthouse was again seriously damaged by American bombing.

The lighthouse was rebuilt by the Republic of China in 1947. It was refurbished with a powerful Fresnel lens in 1962. The surrounding Eluanbi Park opened to the public on 25 December 1982 and the lighthouse itself welcomed regular visitors ten years later.

Customs Administration of the Ministry of Finance.

Kenting NAtional PArk

Open

Open

21° 54′ 8.21″ N, 120° 51′ 9.44″ E

https://taiwandengta.webnode.tw/%e9%b5%9d%e9%91%be%e9%bc%bb%e7%87%88%e5%a1%94%e4%bb%8b%e7%b4%b9/

https://rdc.reed.edu/c/formosa/s/r?_pp=20&query=lighthouse&s=84c86521a7b1e59b79cc5ff5efb52a827c1d0139&p=22&pp=1

https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/twn2.htm

ARLHS TAI-018; Admiralty P4602; NGA 13768.

Image: https://taiwandengta.webnode.tw/%e9%b5%9d%e9%91%be%e9%bc%bb%e7%87%88%e5%a1%94%e4%bb%8b%e7%b4%b9/

1910