Lighthouses of Southern Fujian

The Chinese province of Fujian (formerly spelled Fukien or Fuchien) is located on the southeastern coast of the country, facing Taiwan across the Taiwan (Formosa) Strait. The coastline is rugged and irregular, with many islands and reefs threatening unwary navigators. The major port in the southern half of the province is Xiamen, but there are many smaller ports.

The Chinmen (Kinmen, Quemoy) Islands, which lie in the Formosa Strait off the entrance to Xiamen, have been under the administration of the Republic of China government on Taiwan since 1949. The lighthouses of Chinmen are described on the Matsu and Kinmen page.

Lighthouses in China are maintained by the PRC Maritime Safety Administration. The administration is organized in four regional administrations, with district offices in the major ports. All the lights on this page are maintained by the Fuzhou MSA office, which is part of the Shanghai Region. 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 the serial numbers used by the Shanghai regional office of MSA. 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
Aids to Navigation
This English-language web site of the PRC Maritime Safety Administration has data for many of the lighthouses. For this region it lacks photos.
Light Query Results
This is part of a long light list for all of China posted by the Shanghai MSA office. Southern Fujian lights are found beginning on page 93 of the list. This list seems to be only slightly more recent than the MSA site.
East China Sea Navigation Aids
Lighthouse data posted by the Shanghai Region office of the MSA.
Lighthouse Information
Pages for 10 major lighthouses posted by the Xiamen 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.


Qingyu Light, Xiamen
PRC Maritime Safety Administration Xiamen Office photo

Meizhou Dao Area Lighthouses
Huiyu (Hengyu) (4)
1990 (station established 1957). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery. Lighthouse covered with ceramic tiles and colored in red and white horizontal bands. The tiles were added in 1994. Located on a small island in the entrance to Fengting Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3056; Admiralty F3627.71.
Dadengyu (Ta-tien Hsu, Sorrel Rock) (3)
1993 (station established 1961). Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Located on an isolated islet in the Formosa Strait about 5 km (3 mi) east of Meizhou Dao. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3058; Admiralty F3627.82.
Huanggandao (Huang-kan Hsu) (3)
1989 (station established 1956). Active; focal plane 23 m (69 ft); red flash every 4 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) cylindrical tower with gallery, the lower portion round and the upper portion square. Lighthouse painted white. The base of the second (1969) lighthouse, a square stone tower, also survives at this station. Located on a small island just off a promontory of the mainland north of Xiaozuo. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3063; Admiralty F3627.61.
Jianyu (3)
1984 (station established 1958). Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) cylindrical 2-stage tower with gallery, the lower portion round and the upper portion octagonal. Lighthouse covered with ceramic tiles colored in black and white horizontal bands. An MSA photo appears above. Located on an islet off the promontory of the mainland known as Gulai Point, about 5 km (3 mi) east of Xiaozuo. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3064; Admiralty F3627.5; NGA 19137.
Qingyu (Quanzhou Wan) (3)
1998 (station established 1962). Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Located on an islet off the harbor of the fishing port of Dazuo. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3065; Admiralty F3627.2.
Jianyu Light
Jianyu Light, August 2003
PRC Maritime Safety Administration Shanghai Region photo

Quanzhou Area Lighthouses
Dazuoyan (Dazou)
2000. Active; focal plane 75 m (246 ft); white flash every 15 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is covered with ceramic tiles colored in red and white vertical stripes; the gallery is white and the lantern is painted red. Shanghai MSA also has a page for the lighthouse. This new lighthouse was built as a landfall light for Quanzhou. Located on Dazuojiao (Pyramid Point), a high promontory on the north side of the Quanzhou estuary, about 3 km (2 mi) east of Dazuo. Accessible by road. Site status unknown, possibly open. CN-3066; Admiralty F3627; NGA 19141.
Niaoyu (Bird Island) (2)
1963 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 6.5 m (22 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with ceramic tiles colored white with one black horizontal band. Located on an islet in the entrance to Quanzhou Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3070; Admiralty F3625; NGA 19148.
Xiaozhuidaobeijiao (Xiaozhuidao North Reef) (3)
1993 (station established 1961). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); red flash every 1.5 s. 12.5 m (41 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. The lower portion of the tower is surrounded by a unpainted stone stairway. The rather formidable name of this lighthouse translates as "Slightly North of the Island Reef." The second (1973) light here collapsed in 1991. Located on a reef nearly in the center of the entrance to Quanzhou Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3073; Admiralty F3621.4.
Xiangzhijiao (5)
1993 (station established 1956). Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 16 m (52 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, centered on a 1-story hexagonal concrete equipment room. The lighthouse is covered with ceramic tiles colored in red and white vertical stripes. The photo from Shanghai MSA's page is at right. Located on the promontory on the south side of the entrance to Quanzhou Bay, about 2 km (1.25 mi) east of Xiangzhi. Accessible by road. Site status unknown, possibly open. CN-3095; Admiralty F3620.8; NGA 19150.
Xiangzhijiao Light
Xiangzhijiao Light
PRC Maritime Safety Administration Shanghai Region photo
Yongningzui (Yudongyu) (4)
1995 (station established 1954). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 6 s. 18.5 m (61 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, centered on a 1-story square concrete equipment room. The lighthouse is covered with ceramic tiles colored in red and white horizontal bands. Shanghai MSA also has a page for the lighthouse. Located on an islet just off Yongning Point, marking the entrance to Shenhu Wan, a shallow bay about halfway between Quanzhou and Xiamen. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3096; Admiralty F3620.45.
Shenhuniuweiyu (Shenhu Wan, Qinzaiyu) (3)
1984 (station established 1961). Active; focal plane 14.5 m (47 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Located on a headland at the southern entrance to Shenhu Wan. Accessible by road. Site status unknown, possibly open. CN-3097; Admiralty F3620.4; NGA 19150.4.

Weitou Area Lighthouses
Zhongwaiyu (Nanwei) (2)
1984 (station established 1958). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 11.5 m (38 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Located on an islet off a sharp promontory about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Weitou. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3099; Admiralty F3620.3.
Weitoujiao (Wugantou) (3)
1995 (station established 1962). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white flash every 2 s. 16 m (52 ft) hexagonal cylindrical brick tower with gallery, centered on a 1-story hexagonal brick equipment room. The lighthouse is covered with black ceramic tiles. The Xiamen MSA Office photo is at right, Shanghai MSA also has a page for the lighthouse. This lighthouse overlooks a channel about 13 km (8 mi) wide that separates the mainland from the island of Chinmen (Kinmen, or Quemoy as it was formerly known in the West). Located on an islet just off Weitou Point (Weitoujiao)., marking the entrance to the Yongning estuary. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3100; Admiralty F3620.2.
Fenliujiao (3)
2004 (station established 1954). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. The lower portion of the tower is surrounded by a unpainted stone stairway. Located on a reef in the northern part of Weitou Bay, about 3 km (2 mi) off the mainland coast near Shijing. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3105; Admiralty F3619.
Neipan (3)
2003 (station established 1954). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The lower portion of the tower is surrounded by a unpainted stone stairway. Located on a reef in the middle of Weitou Bay, about 7 km (4.5 mi) north of the northernmost point of Chinmen. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3104; Admiralty F3619.2.

Weitoujiao Light; PRC
Maritime Safety Administration Xiamen Office photo

Xiamen Harbor Lighthouses
Manyujiao (3)
2009 (station established 1963). Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on an octagonal concrete pier. Lighthouse is white, lantern dome red. The Xiamen MSA office has a photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Shanghai MSA has a photo of the 1992 lighthouse. The new lighthouse was inaugurated in July 2009. Located on a dangerous shoal in the middle of Xiamen harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed, but the light should be visible from the waterfront in downtown Xiamen. CN-3156; Admiralty F3616; NGA 19172.
Houyu (Xiamen) (4)
2001 (station established 1954). Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 6 s. 20 m (66 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The Xiamen MSA Office photo is at right, Shanghai MSA also has a page for the lighthouse, and Google has a satellite view. Houyu (Monkey Island) is a small island in the center of Xiamen harbor. Located on the island; accessible only by boat. Site status unknown, but the lighthouse is certainly visible from many places in Xiamen. CN-3157; Admiralty F3615; NGA 19168.
Dayu (2)
1984 (station established 1982). Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) hexagonal cylindrical stone tower with gallery, covered with ceramic tiles colored in red and white vertical stripes. Google has a satellite view. Dayu is a forested island on the southwest side of Xiamen harbor. Located on the southeastern side of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown, but the lighthouse is certainly visible from many places in Xiamen. CN-3162; Admiralty F3615.5; NGA 19164.

Houyu (Monkey Island) Light, Xiamen
PRC Maritime Safety Administration Xiamen Office photo
[Huangjiao]
1973. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 3 m (10 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted bright red. This tiny lighthouse stands atop a giant boulder, and a wood stairway, painted white, climbs improbably to the light. Yuxuan Wang has a 2007 photo, another good photo is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This light marks the southern entrance to the narrow channel between the island of Julangyu and the Xiamen waterfront. Located on a tiny islet at the southeast end of Xiamen harbor. Accessible only by boat, but the photos show visitors climbing the rock to the light. Site open, tower closed. CN-3169.
Muqianjiao
1993. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round hourglass-shaped fiberglass tower, painted with red and black horizontal bands, centered on a round concrete pier. NGA's spelling "Muquian Jiao" is a mistake. Located on a reef at the southwest end of Xiamen harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-3174; NGA 19162.

Xiamen Southern Approach Lighthouses
Qingyu (Blue Island, Lantau, Xiamen, Amoy)
1875. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 10 m (33 ft) (?) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery. Although listed at 10 m, the tower appears shorter in photos. In 1998 the tower was restored and covered with ceramic tiles colored in red and white vertical stripes. Lantern painted white; the lantern dome is gray with a narrow red band. The Xiamen MSA Office photo is at the top of this page, and the Shanghai MSA also has a page for the lighthouse. This historic lighthouse was the traditional landfall light for Xiamen, or Amoy as it was called during the colonial period. Located on a small island in Xiamen Bay about 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of the city. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-3190; Admiralty F3610; NGA 19184.
Tajiao (2)
2002 (station established 1969). Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. Approx. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. The main channel to Xiamen passes between this light and the Qingyu lighthouse. Located on a rocky reef just off a promontory of the mainland, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southwest of Qingyu. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-3191; Admiralty F3609.3; NGA 19186.3.
Guijiao (2)
2002 (station established 1965). Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. Located on a reef close to the mainland about 3 km (2 mi) south of Qingyu. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-3192; Admiralty F3609.2; NGA 19186.2.
Qingjiao (Qingjiaoyu) (3)
1996 (station established 1955). Active; focal plane 22.5 m (74 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal brick tower with gallery, covered with ceramic tiles colored in red and white horizontal bands. Located on an islet about 1.5 km (1 mi) south of the Guijiao light. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-3193; Admiralty F3608.5.
Jiuzhejiao
1992. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, covered with ceramic tiles colored in red and white horizontal bands. Located on an islet off the east side of the island of Wuyu. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-3193.1; Admiralty F3609; NGA 19186.
Wuyu (Xiamen Wuyu) (2)
1988 (station established 1976). Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); white flash every 4 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Located on a promontory at the southern tip of the island of Wuyu. Site status unknown. CN-3194; Admiralty F3608.
Dongjiao (Baiwangjiao) (4)
1998 (station established 1958). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal concrete tower with gallery, covered with ceramic tiles colored in black and white horizontal bands. Located on a reef off the entrance to the small mainland port of Xiaoao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-3195; Admiralty F3607.5.
* Zhenhaijiao (Cape Chenhai)
1989. Active; focal plane 110 m (361 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 22.5 m (74 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and a large hexagonal control room. Lighthouse covered with white ceramic tile; lantern painted red. 3-story administration building, crew quarters and other buildings. The Xiamen MSA Office photo is at right, and Shanghai MSA also has a page for the lighthouse. This large, modern light station serves as the new landfall light for Xiamen and also guards the southern end of the Taiwan (Formosa) Strait. Located on Zhenhaijiao (Cape Chenhai), a prominent cape about 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Xiamen and the same distance southwest of Chinmen (Quemoy) Island. Site accessible by road, tower closed. CN-3195.1; Admiralty F3607; NGA 19197.

Zhenhaijiao Light
PRC Maritime Safety Administration Xiamen Office photo

Dingtai Bay Lighthouses
Dingtaitou (Table Head) (3)
1986 (station established 1970). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10.5 m (34 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with gallery, covered in ceramic tiles colored in red and white horizontal bands. Located at the end of a long promontory projecting into Dingtai Wan about 6 km (3.5 mi) southwest of Zhenhaijiao. Site status unknown. CN-3198; Admiralty F3606.2.
Nandingdao (2)
1987 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 60 m (198 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with gallery, covered in ceramic tiles colored in black and white horizontal bands. Located on a small island about 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Liuao. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3201; Admiralty F3605; NGA 19188.
* Jiangjuntou
1989. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) hexagonal cylindrical stone tower with gallery, covered in ceramic tiles colored in red and white vertical stripes. The Xiamen MSA Office photo is at right, and Shanghai MSA also has a page for the lighthouse. Located on a promontory at the southeastern tip of the Liuao peninsula. Accessible by road. Site status unknown, but probably open. CN-3202.
Dongjiao (2)
1962 (station established 1956). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered in red ceramic tiles. Located on a reef about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) east of the Jiangjuntou lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3204.

Jiangjuntou Light
PRC Maritime Safety Administration Xiamen Office photo
Qian Yan (Baijiao) (2)
1985 (station established 1967). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 4 s. 12 m (39 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered in white ceramic tiles. Located on a small island about 7 km (4.5 mi) southeast of Liuao. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3203; Admiralty F3604; NGA 19192.

Dongshan Area Lighthouses
Waiying (2)
1985 (station established 1967). Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, covered in ceramic tiles colored in red and white horizontal bands. Located on a small island at the southern entrance to Futou Wan. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3218; Admiralty F3603.6; NGA 19193.
Shenglinyu (2)
1965 (station established 1956). Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with gallery, covered in black ceramic tiles. Located on a small island marking a narrow passage on the east side of the Guleitou peninsula about 11 km (7 mi) northeast of the tip of the peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3219; Admiralty F3603.5.
* Guleitou (Dongshan, Thunder Head)
1993. Active; focal plane 114 m (374 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 23.5 m (77 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, gallery, four ribs, and a large control room, attached to a 1-story administration building. Building covered with white ceramic tiles; lantern painted red. A photo is at right. 4-story coast guard station and other station buildings. Shanghai MSA also has a page for the lighthouse. This modern lighthouse was built to guide shipping in the southern entrance to the Taiwan (Formosa) Strait, and it also marks the entrance to Dongshan Bay and the harbor of Dongshan. Located on the heights at the southern tip of the Guleitou peninsula. Accessible by road. Site status unknown, but probably open. CN-3220; Admiralty F3603; NGA 19200.
Shiyu (Shih Hsu, Cliff island) (3)
1984 (station established 1956). Active; focal plane 55 m (180 ft); white flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery, covered in ceramic tiles colored in black and white horizontal bands. Located on a high island off the southeastern end of Dongshandao (Dongshan Island). Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3246; Admiralty F3598.5; NGA 19204.

Guleitou Light
PRC Maritime Safety Administration Xiamen Office photo
Xiongdiyu
1988. Active; focal plane 73.5 m (241 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) hexagonal cylindrical stone tower with gallery, covered in ceramic tiles colored in red and white vertical stripes. Shanghai MSA also has a page for the lighthouse. Located on a small island in the Taiwan Strait, about 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Dongshan. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. CN-3246.1; Admiralty F3598; NGA 19205.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted July 28, 2008. Checked and revised June 28, 2009. Lighthouses: 38. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.