Lighthouses of China: Daishan Islands, Zhejiang

The Chinese province of Zhejiang (formerly spelled Chekiang) occupies the central coast of the country, south of Shanghai and north of the Formosa Strait. The province faces east on the East China Sea. For the most part the coastline is hilly and irregular, with more than 3000 islands of all sizes offshore.

Hangzhou Bay is a large embayment at the northern end of the province. Spread across the mouth of Hangzhou Bay, the Zhoushan Islands include well over 1000 islands, although only 103 are large enough to be inhabited. Lighting this maze of islands requires hundreds of beacons of all sizes. This page covers lighthouses of Daishan County, including the islands of Qushan, Daishan, and Changtushan, plus the Zhongjieshan Islands to the east of Changtushan.

Lighthouses in China are maintained by the PRC Maritime Safety Administration. The administration is organized in four regional administrations, with offices in the major ports. All the lights on this page are maintained by the Zhenhai MSA office. In Chinese, jiao or chiao is a cape, dao, tao, yu, or hsu is an island, wan is a bay, and kang or gang is a harbor. Due to competing systems for transliterating Chinese into Latin characters, there are always several possible spellings for the names of places in China.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. CN numbers are Chinese light list numbers. Admiralty numbers are from volume F of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
List of Chinese Lights
This is part of a long light list for all of China posted by the Shanghai MSA office. Daishan area lights are found beginning on page 54 of the list.
East China Sea Navigation Aids
Additional lighthouse data posted by the Shanghai Region office of the MSA.
China AMS Topographic Maps
A fine collection of U.S. Army Map Service maps of China, in English, posted by the University of Texas Library.

Xiasanxing Light
Xiasanxing Light
postcard scan courtesy of Michel Forand
Qushandao (Tsu Shan Dao) Area Lighthouses
Note: Northernmost of the larger islands of the Zhoushan archipelago, Qushandao is about 15 km (9 mi) long and 3-5 km (2-3 mi) wide.
Zhongkuidao (Langgang Shan, Zhongkui, Lukon Island)
1988. Active; focal plane 107 m (351 ft); four white flashes every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round white concrete tower. Google has a very distant satellite view of the site. Zhongkuidao is an highest of a small group of islands in the East China Sea about 50 km (30 mi) east of Qushandao. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-2336.1; Admiralty F3730; NGA 18902.
Xiasanxing (Hsia-san-hsing) Shan (Elgar Island) (2)
1993 (station established 1912). Active; focal plane 79 m (259 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 27 m (89 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's house. A photo is at the top of this page, an aerial photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view of the site. Shanghai MSA has an additional page for the station, and near the bottom of that page is a photo of the first lighthouse. The Sanxing Islands (sometimes called the Hobson Islands by Western navigators) are a group of small islands to the east of Qushandao. Xiasanxing is an islet an eastern end of the group. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat, and landing is difficult. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PRC-066; CN-2325; Admiralty F3734; NGA 18896.
Xiaopanshan (Xiaopan Shan)
2006(?). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white flash every 6s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands. No photo available, and the light is not clearly visible in Google's distant satellite view. Located on an island off the eastern end of Qushandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2333.2, Admiralty F3735.5.
Xiaoshulangshan (Xiaoshulang Shan)
2006. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two white flashes every 6s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands. No photo available, and the light does not appear in Google's satellite view. Located on an island about 3 km (2 mi) east of the southeastern tip of Qushandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2333.7, Admiralty F3736.5.
Pipalan (Pipalandao) (2?)
2006(?) (station establishment 2001). Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, painted white with dark red trim. Shanghai MSA's photo is at right. Shanghai MSA has a page showing the previous light, mounted on an interesting stone pyramid that probably served for many years as a daybeacon. The light is believed to be centered in a Google satellite view. Located on an island sheltering a fishing port at the west end of Qushandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2330; Admiralty F3719.
Laitouzhi (2)
1978 (station established 1953). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, painted white. The light is not seen in Google's distant satellite view. Located on a small island off the west coast of Qushandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2329; Admiralty F3718.8.
Heshangzuijiao
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white flash every 6 s. 8 m round white concrete tower. No photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the area. Located on the northwestern tip of Qushandao. Site status unknown. CN-2328.54; Admiralty F3718.828.
Qiaoliangshan (Qiaoliang Shan)
2009(?). Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); three white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, mounted on a concrete pier and painted with black and white horizontal bands. Shanghai MSA has a photo, but the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Qiaolangshan is a small island just off the northwestern tip of Qushandao. Located off the eastern end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2328.535; Admiralty F3718.8275.

Pipalan Light, December 2009
Shanghai MSA photo
Xiaoqushan
2006(?). Active; focal plane 160 m (525 ft); four white flashes every 15 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with two galleries. Radar and communications towers are also mounted atop the lighthouse. Shanghai MSA has a photo, but the lighthouse is not seen in Google's satellite view. Xiaoqushan (Little Qushan) is a high island about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Qushandao. Located atop the high ridge at the north end of the island. Site status unknown. CN-2328.5; Admiralty F3718.81.
Xiaohengleshan (Xiaohengle Shan)
2006(?). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Shanghai MSA has a photo, but the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Xiaohengleshan is a small island between Huangzheshan and Xiaoqushan. Located at the east end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2328.515; Admiralty F3718.8255.
Huangzheshan (Huangzhe Shan)
2005(?). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Shanghai MSA has a photo, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the location. Huangzheshan is an island about 6 km (3.5 mi) north of Qushandao. Located on the northern point of the island. Site status unknown. CN-2332.001; Admiralty F3718.84.
Xiahaishan (Xiahai Shan)
2005(?). Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. No photo available, and the light is not seen in Google's distant satellite view. Located on a small island about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Qushandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2332.003; Admiralty F3734.8.

Zhongjieshan Islands Lighthouses
Note: These islands lie at the eastern end of the same chain that includes Daishandao and Changtushandao. However, they are not part of Daishan County but are attached administratively to the Putuo District at the eastern end of Zhoushan Island.
Miaozihudao (Miaozihu Dao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 6 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) hexagonal skeletal tower with gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Moqing Zhu has a good photo and a second photo, and Shanghai MSA also has a photo. This is an unusually tall example of a type of small lightbeacon installed recently throughout the Zhoushan Islands. Located at the southern tip of Miaozihu, which appears to be the most populous island of the group. Site open, tower closed. CN-2377.3, Admiralty F3721.5.
Liangxiongdiyu (Liangxiongdi Yu)
2007. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 2 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. An MSA photo is at right. This new lighthouse marks a reef known as the "Two Brothers," located at the extreme eastern end of the Daishan chain. It is one of several lighthouses built by China in recent years to mark its maritime frontier. Google has a satellite view of the reef, taken before the lighthouse was built. Site status unknown. CN-2378.1, Admiralty F3719.8.

Film crew at the new Liangxiongdiyu Light, 2007; Shanghai MSA photo

Changtushan Area Lighthouses
Note: Located just to the east of Daishandao, Changtushan consists of two islands, Dachangtushan (Big Changtushan)in the east and Xiaochangtushan (Little Changtushan) in the west. Separated by a narrow channel, the two islands together are about 15 km (9 mi) long from east to west and 4 km (2.5 mi) wide.
Xiaojiaobeishan (Xiaojiaobei Shan) (2)
1986 (station established 1958). Active; focal plane 18 m (56 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tile. No closeup photo available, and Google has only a very distant view of the reef. Located on an isolated reef about 5 km (3 mi) south of Dachangtushan.
Sankuaishan (Sankuai Shan) (3)
1992 (station established 1957). Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower, covered with white ceramic tile. No closeup photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This light guides vessels approaching Changtushan from the southwest (from Zhoushan). Located on a small island about 3 km (2 mi) southwest of the southeastern point of Daishandao and 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of the southwestern point of Dachangtushan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2360, Admiralty F3716.725.
Chuanbishan (Chuanbi Shan) West
2008. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); nine very quick white flashes every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted yellow with a black horizontal band. No photo available. Located on a reef in the approach to Changtushan from the south, about 1.5 km (1mi) south of the Changtushan Fengshuijiao light (next entry). Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2365.1, Admiralty F3716.7355.
Fengshuijiao (Changtushan Fengshui Jiao) (3)
1989 (station established 1961). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); four white flashes every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with two galleries, covered with white ceramic tile. Google has a distant satellite view. There is another Fengshuijiao Light off the west end of Daishandao (see above). Located on a rock in the southwestern entrance to the channel separating the two islands. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2363, Admiralty F3716.735.
Huangnishan (2)
1997 (station established 1956). Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. No closeup photo available; Google has a very distant satellite view of the site. Located on Dachangtushan at a sharp bend in the channel separating the two islands. Site status unknown. CN-2370.
Xihezuidao (Xihezui Dao)
Date unknown (station established 1957). Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); white flash every 2 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. A photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view. MSA's page apparently shows the previous lighthouse. Located atop a small island off the northeastern corner of Xiaochangtushan, guiding vessels approaching the channel separating the two islands. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2369, Admiralty F3716.738.
Nanmuzhuangdao (Nanmuzhuang Dao) South
2006. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band. Shanghai MSA has a small photo, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the south end of Nanmuzhuang island, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east of the eastern end of Dachangtushan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2363.6, Admiralty F3719.75.
Dongguzhujiao (Dongguzhu Jiao)
2006. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band. Shanghai MSA has a small photo. Located on a rock in the passage between Daxizhai and Donggu islands, about 13 km (8 mi) east of Dachangtushan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2364.15, Admiralty F3719.82.

Daishandao Area Lighthouses
Note: Daishandao (Daishan Island) is located about 16 km (10 mi) north of Zhoushandao in the central part of the Zhoushan archipelago. The island is roughly triangular in shape, about 15 km (9 mi) on each side.
Xiaoguishan (Steep Island)
1883. Active; focal plane 75 m (246 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery, painted black. MSA's photo is at right, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located atop a small island about 28 km (18 mi) northeast of Zhoushan island. Accessible only by boat, and landing is difficult. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PRC-064; CN-2375; Admiralty F3720; NGA 18904.
Xiaozhuyu (Xiaozhu Yu)
1994 (station established 1962). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Google has a distant satellite view. Located atop a small island in the northern entrance to the channel between Daishandao and Changtushandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2364, Admiralty F3716.74.
Xiaoguishan Light
Xiaoguishan Light
PRC Maritime Safety Administration photo
Daishan Pumen East Entrance (2)
2003 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 21 m (62 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, colored with black and white horizontal bands. Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse replaced a light on a pyramidal beacon. Located at the southeastern tip of Daishandao, marking the east entrance to Pumen harbor. Site status unknown. CN-2359, Admiralty F3716.743.
Dongshanzui (Dongshan Zui) (2)
2003 (station established 1953). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, colored with red and white horizontal bands. Google has a satellite view. Located at the east end of a small island about 3 km (2mi) south of Daishandao and a similar distance north of Xiushandao. Site status unknown. CN-2350, Admiralty F3716.724.
Yeyadanshan (Yeyadan Shan)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (62 ft); white flash every 6 s.12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. Jin Shengze has a photo and a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef south of Goating, the principal town of Daishandao, near the southeastern end of the island. Site open, tower closed. CN-2358, Admiralty F3716.729.
Guanshan (Guan Shan) (2)
1969 (station established 1953). Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white flash every 4 s. 6 m (20 ft) round strongly conical concrete tower, painted black. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a reef just off the southern tip of Guan Shan, an island south of Daishan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2356, Admiralty F3716.728.

Daishan Pumen East Entrance Light; Shanghai MSA photo
Mingjiao (Ming Jiao) (2)
1981 (station established 1964). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Google has a satellite view. Located on Mingjiao ("bright reef"), a dangerous reef between the inhabited islands of Daishan and Xiushan. Accessible only by boat, and landing is difficult. Site and tower closed. CN-2355; Admiralty F3716.727; NGA 18909.1.
Shizhongshan (Shizhong Shan) (2)
1991 (station established 1957). Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a skerry about 8 km (5 mi) south of Daishandao and 6 km (3.5 mi) north of Zhoushandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2343, Admiralty F3716.705.
Nanpu Wuhujiao (Wuhu Jiao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, covered with ceramic tile colored black with a red horizontal band. Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef just off the south coast of Daishandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2346, Admiralty F3716.707.
Fengshuijiao (Daishan Fengshui Jiao) (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); flash every 4 s, white or red depending on direction. 10m (33 ft) concrete tower with gallery, painted red. There is another Fengshuijiao light in the Changtushan islands (see below). Google's satellite view does not reveal the light. Located on a rock obstructing the passage around the west end of Daishandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2342, Admiralty F3716.702.
Huagushan (Huagu Shan) (2)
1996 (station established 1957). Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. No closeup photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view. Located atop a small island about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) off the western tip of of Daishandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2341, Admiralty F3716.7.
Yuxingnao (Yuxingnaodao, Yushingnao, West Volcano Island)
1872. Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 10 m (33 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery, painted black. Google has only a very distant satellite view. Yuxingnao is an isolated islet in the southern part of Hangzhou Bay, about 15 km (9 mi) northwest of Daishandao. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat, and landing is difficult. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PRC-074; CN-2337; Admiralty F3716.8; NGA 18908.
Dazhaizishan (Dazhai Shan) (2)
1995 (station established 1957). Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. No closeup photo available; Google has a distant satellite view. Located atop a small island about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of Daishandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2344, Admiralty F3716.77.
Xiangpengshan (Xiangpeng Shan) (2)
1993 (station established 1953). Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. No closeup photo available; Google has a distant satellite view. Located atop a small island marking the end of an underwater ridge extending from the northern tip of Daishandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2354, Admiralty F3716.76.
Yuxingnao Light
Yuxingnao Light
PRC Maritime Safety Administration photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Shengsi Islands | South: Zhoushan Island Area

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Posted May 12, 2008. Checked and revised May 30, 2011. Lighthouses 36. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.