Lighthouses of China: Xiangshan Area, 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.

This page includes lighthouses of Xiangshan Bay and the hammerhead-shaped end of the Xiangshan Peninsula. This area lies 30 to 100 km (20-60 miles) south of the city of Ningbo and is included within the Ningbo sub-province. Oriented northeast to southwest, Xiangshan Bay is roughly 80 km (50 mi) long but only 5-10 km (3-6 mi) wide over most of its length. During the colonial period, Westerners called the bay "Nimrod Sound."

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. The Chinese word for a lighthouse is dēngtǎ (灯塔). 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
Light Query Results
This is part of a long light list for all of China posted by the Shanghai MSA office. As of June 2012, Xiangshan area lights were found beginning on page 82 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.

Beiyushan Light
Beiyushan Light, Yushan Islands
Ningbo Tourist Development Office photo

Xiangshan Bay North Side Lighthouses
Note: Xiangshan Bay is more than 80 km (50 mi) long but rarely much more than 10 km (6 mi) wide. The bay extends from northeast to southwest along the north side of the Xiangshan Peninsula and about 50 km (30 mi) southeast of the city of Ningbo. Many lights are needed to guide vessels in the narrow waters of the bay.
Chuantujiao (Chuantu Jiao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); three quick white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with two galleries, painted with black and yellow horizontal bands. A distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef off the harbor of Xianxiangzhen, on the lower north side of the bay. Accessible only by boat, but there is a good view from ferries crossing the bay from Xianxiangzhen. Site open, tower closed. CN-2545.1; Admiralty F3692.6.
Wuguishan (Wugui Shan)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30.5 m (100 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island near the center of Xiangshan Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2548; Admiralty F3692.959.
Dazhuniangjiao (Dazhuniang Jiao, Gangpan Jiao) (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, painted white, mounted on a square concrete pier. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef in the entrance to the narrower portion of Xianshan Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2554; Admiralty F3692.956.
Daduishan (Dadui Shan, Shuangdeshan)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, painted white, mounted on a square concrete pier. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the southeastern point of Daduishan, an island off the north side of Xianshan Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2558.1; Admiralty F3692.954.
Fenshuijiao (Fenshui Jiao, Shizi Kou)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15.5 m (51 ft); three red flashes every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef in a narrow passage of upper Xiangshan Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2562; Admiralty F3692.95.

Xiangshan Bay South Side Lighthouses
Yezhujiao (Yezhu Jiao) (2)
2003 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 11.5 m (38 ft); green flash every 4 s. 11.5 m (38 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted green, mounted on a round concrete base. Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef off the west end of Baishishandao. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2565.1; Admiralty F3692.9.
Goushan (Gou Shan) South
2003 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 8.5 m (28 ft); three green flashes every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted green, mounted on a round concrete base. Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a reef off the southwest side of Baishishandao. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2564; Admiralty F3692.8.
Shenshuijiao (Shenshui Jiao, Baishishandao, Baishishan Dao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (56 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. No photo available; Google has a very distant satellite view of the location. Located on a reef off the northern tip of Baishishandao, about 10 km (6 mi) west of Xianshangang. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2561; Admiralty F3692.953.
Xiaojiao (Xiao Jiao, San Jiao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef about 3 km (2 mi) west of Xianshangang. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2547.2; Admiralty F3692.55.
Maojiao (Mao Jiao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 13 m (43 ft) 2-stage round cylindrical concrete tower with galleries. Upper stage painted red, lower stage unpainted. MSA's photo is at right, a fuzzy photo and a distant view are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef northwest of the harbor of Xianshangang, on the lower south side of the bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2547.1; Admiralty F3692.5.
Wanjiao (Wan Jiao, Fan Jiao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (56 ft); light pattern unknown. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef off the harbor of Xianshangang, on the lower south side of the bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2547; Admiralty F3692.47.
Quejiao (Que Jiao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (59 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef marking the southern entrance to Xiangshan Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2545; Admiralty F3692.4.
Maojiao Light
Maojiao Light, Xiangshan Bay
PRC Maritime Safety Administration photo

East China Sea Lighthouses
Note: These lighthouses are on islands and reefs off the east end of the Xiangshan Peninsula.
Xiexuantou
2006. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 2 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Zhenhai MSA has a photo (third photo on the page, also seen at right), and Shanghai MSA has a smaller photo in its announcement of the new light, but the tower is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located on a small island about 8 km (5 mi) south of Liuheng island and 20 km (13 mi) east of the northeastern end of the Xiangshan Peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2572.6; Admiralty F3690.5.
Sijiao (Si Jiao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 2 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands. No photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the reef. Located on a reef about 12 km (7.5 mi) east of the northern end of the Xiangshan Peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2573.2; Admiralty F3690.25; NGA 18979.15.
Ximopanjiao (Ximopan Jiao, Ximoban, Hsi-mo-pan)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10.5 m (35 ft) round stone tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Google has only a very distant view of the location. Located on an islet within a reef about 10 km (6 mi) east of the Hongshenjiao lighthouse and 5 km (3 mi) southwest of the Xiexuantou lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2573; Admiralty F3690.
Daqingshan East
2008. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo available; the light is barely visible in Google's satellite view. Located on Daqingshan, the easternmost island of the Guanchuanao group, about 30 km (19 mi) east of the Xiangshan Peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2577.1; Admiralty F3689.1.

Xiexuantou Light
PRC Maritime Safety Administration Zhenhai Office photo
Aiqishan (Nanjiushan West, Liaobantian West Islet) (2)
1989 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Google has a satellite view. Nanjiushan is an island about 7 km (4.5 mi) long and 16 km (10 mi) east of the central east coast of the Xiangshan peninsula. Located onAiqishan, an island off the western tip of Nanjiushan. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2579; Admiralty F3685; NGA 18980.5.
Waidongzui (Waidong Zui, Nanjiushan) (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 11.5 m (38 ft) round cylindrical tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Google has a satellite view of this light, which has replaced the square tower seen in the Shanghai MSA photo. Located high on the eastern tip of Nanjiushan. Site status unknown. CN-2578; Admiralty F3689; NGA 18980.
Banyangjiao (Banyang Jiao, Niubishan Shuidao, Jiushan Liedao) (3)
2000 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with two galleries and an exterior stairway leading to the lower gallery. Lighthouse covered with tiles colored black with a red horizontal band. The second (1986) lighthouse had to be replaced after it was heavily damaged by a typhoon in 1997. Located on an isolated reef about 20 km (13 mi) east of the southeastern point of the Xiangshan Peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2584; Admiralty F3684; NGA 18981.

Xiangshan Peninsula Lighthouses
Xiadongyu (Xiaodong Yu, Niu Bishan Channel)
1998 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white flash every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. MSA's photo is at the top of this page, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on an islet off the northern tip of Dungxushan, an island northeast of the northeastern corner of the Xiangshan peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2568; Admiralty F3691.6.
Hongshenjiao (Hongshen Jiao) (2)
1997 (station established 1949). Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with black ceramic tiles. The lighthouse replaced a much shorter hexagonal tower that still stands nearby. Google has a distant satellite view. Located on an islet about 7 km (4.5 mi) south of the Xiaodong Yu light. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty CN-2571; F3691.2.
Xiaoyezhujiao (Xiaoyezhu Jiao) (3)
1998 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); three white flashes every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse covered with red ceramic tiles, pier painted black. Located on an underwater reef about 1.5 km (1 mi) southeast of the Hongshenjiao lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2572; Admiralty F3691; NGA 18979.1.
Ma'anshan (Ma'an Shan)
2007. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, colored with red and white horizonal bands. Shanghai MSA has a small photo of this new lighthouse, and Google has a satellite view. This light marks the end of a long reef. Located on a small island off the eastern end of the larger island of Dapinggang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2573.6; Admiralty F3689.45.
Xiasijiao (Xiasi Jiao) (2)
1988 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, colored white. Google has a satellite view. Located on the southernmost of three small islands about 15 km (9 mi) east of Ma'anshan. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2574; Admiralty F3689.5.
Xiaomoshan (Xiaomo Shan)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. A very distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island just off a promontory of the mainland east of Dongchenxiang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2580; Admiralty F3684.75.
Ermushan (Erhmu Shan, Tianluotoudao) (3)
1998 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Google has a satellite view. Located atop a small island about 8 km (5 mi) off the central coast of the Xiangshan Peninsula, east of Danmen. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2581; Admiralty F3684.5.
Baimutianjiao (Baimutian Jiao, Xing Jiao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); four white flashes every 12 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, mounted on a round concrete pier. Tower probably covered with tiles, colored in red and black horizontal bands; the pier is unpainted. Located on a submerged reef about 25 km (15 mi) northeast of Shipuzhen in the southeastern corner of the Xiangshan Peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-2583; Admiralty F3684.3.
Suoshan (Dachandao, So Shan) (2)
1986 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. The MSA photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a small island about 9 km (5.5 mi) south of the Erhmushan light. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2585; Admiralty F3683.7.
Suoshan Light
Suoshan Light
PRC Maritime Safety Administration photo

Shipu Area Lighthouses
Note: Shipu is a town near the southern tip of the Xiangshan Peninsula. It is rarely visited by Western tourists, but it is an important fishing port and a center of the seafood industry.
Tongtouzui (Tongtou Zui)
2007. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); red flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, colored with red and white horizonal bands. Shanghai MSA has a small photo of this new lighthouse, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the northeastern point of Tongtou island, about 12 km (7.5 mi) east northeast of Shipugang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2585.1; Admiralty F3683.3.
Luoboshan (Luobo Shan) East (Ganmenshan, Xia-ao) (2)
1999 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. This lighthouse replaced a light severely damaged by a typhoon in 1997. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the southeastern tip of the Xiangshan Peninsula, marking the east side of the entrance to the fishing port of Xia-ao. Site status unknown. CN-2586; Admiralty F3682.84.
Jiaoweidao (Jiaowei Dao) (2)
2003 (station establishment date unknown) . Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The original light was on a small square masonry tower, painted white. Google has a satellite view. Located atop a small island in the middle of Shipu Bay, the open roads between Xia-ao and Tantoushan. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2592; Admiralty F3682.8; NGA 18981.5.
* Shipugang East Entrance
1916. Inactive. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted white concrete, lantern painted red. A photo is at right, Philip Yang has a 2010 photo, and Google has a satellite view. This historic lighthouse has been nicely restored and appears to be located in a public park. Located on a promontory on the north side of the narrow entrance to the traditional harbor of of Shipu (Shipugang). Site open, tower closed.
Taiwangyushan (Taiwangyu Shan) (2)
2007 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. Shanghai MSA has a distant view showing both the old and new lights, a very distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop an island in the harbor of Shipu. CN-2598; Admiralty F3682.7.
Huangpangjiao (Huangpang Jiao) (2)
2007 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 10 m; red flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. No photo of the new light is available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef in the harbor of Shipu. CN-2599; Admiralty F3682.75.
Zhongjieshan (Zhongjie Shan)
2006. Active; focal plane 17.5 m (57 ft); three white flashes every 6 s. 10.5 m (34 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of an island in the channel between Nantiandao and the mainland, about 5 km (3 mi) west of Shipu. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2600; Admiralty F3682.55.
Shipugang Light
Shipugang East Entrance Light, Shipu, September 2008
photo copyright chinarenmin; permission requested

Nantiandao Area Lighthouses
Note: Nantiandao is an irregularly-shaped island off the southern tip of the Xiangshan Peninsula, separated from the mainland by Shipu harbor. The island is accessible by bridge.
Jiabeixia (3?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m; white flash every 4 s. 10 m octagonal concrete tower, painted white. No photo of the new light is available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the southern tip of an island on the south side of Shipu harbor and northeast of Nantiandao. Site status unknown. CN-2597; Admiralty F3682.6.
Wujiao (Wu Jiao) (2)
1982 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal pyramidal concrete tower with double gallery, covered with ceramic tiles colored in red and white horizontal bands. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located atop a rocky islet off the eastern tip of Tantoushan, an inhabited island off the east coast of Nantiandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2590; Admiralty F3683.5.
Niluoyu (Niluo Yu)
2008. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); four white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, colored with black and white horizonal bands. No photo available, and the tower does not appear in Google's satellite view of the location. Located on a small island about 10 km (6 mi) east of Nantiandao, a large island off the southeastern tip of the Xiangshan Peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2596.6; Admiralty F3683.48; NGA 18981.3.
Guijiaoshan (Guijiao Shan, Husuntieliandao)
2008. Active; focal plane 13.5 m (44 ft); three white flashes every 6 s. 9 m round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red. Shanghai MSA's photo of this new light is at right, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a small island just off the southeastern coast of Nantiandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2621.1; Admiralty F3682.52.
Mituodao (Mituo Dao, Amida Island)
1994 (station established 1955). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a small island about 7 km (4 mi) southeast of Nantiandao, marking the entrance to Sanmen Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2622; Admiralty F3682.5.
Caoxiepa Yu (Qaoziehpo, Tsao-hsieh-po)
1991 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 28.5 m (94 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Google has only a very distant satellite view of the reef. Located on an islet about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of the southern tip of Nantiandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2623; Admiralty F3682.3.
Guijiaoshan Light
Guijiaoshan Light, Nantiandao
PRC MSA Shanghai Region photo
Guangtoujiao (Guangtou Jiao)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (30 ft); white flash every 4 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, covered with tiles colored in red and white horizontal bands. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef in Nantian Bay, southwest of Nantiandao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-2605.1; Admiralty F3682.285; NGA 18981.6.

Yushan Islands Lighthouse
Note: The Yushan (Yu Shan) Islands include two inhabited islands (Beiyushan and Nanyushan) and a scattering of islets and reefs about 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Nantian and a similar distance east of the entrance to Sanmen Bay. The islands were occupied by Japan during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95), and the light station was established by Japan. The permanent population of the islands is less than 400, but it may increase: the Ningbo City government has a plan to develop the islands as a deep sea fishing resort.
Beiyushan (Yu Shan, North Yushan)
1895. Active; focal plane 103 m (338 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. 2-story keeper's house and other light station buildings. A photo is at the top of this page, Zhang Kaihong has a closeup, a closeup, a view from the sea and another view from the sea are available, and Google has a distant satellite view. This is the original Japanese lighthouse, but it had to be repaired after World War II and the large modern lantern was installed in 1986. The station is staffed by coast guard personnel. Located on Beiyushan (North Yushan Island). Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS PRC-008; CN-2636; Admiralty F3682; NGA 18982.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Jiaxing and Ningbo | South: Central Zhejiang

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Posted May 12, 2008. Checked and revised June 21, 2012. Lighthouses: 43. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.