Lighthouses of China: Eastern Guangdong

The Chinese province of Guangdong (formerly spelled Kwangtung) is located on the southern coast of the country, facing the South China Sea. The coastline is rugged and irregular, with many islands and reefs threatening unwary navigators. This page lists lighthouses of the eastern portion of the province, between Hong Kong and the border of Fujian province. The major port in this part of the province is Shantou, formerly called Swatow.

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 Shantou MSA office, which is part of the Guangzhou Region. 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 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
Light Query Results
This is part of a long light list for all of China posted by the Shanghai MSA office. As of August 2012, Eastern Guangdong lights were found beginning on page 149 of the list.
Lighthouse Photos
Photos of eight major lighthouses, posted by the Guangdong regional MSA office.
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.

Nan'aodao Light
Nan'aodao Light, Nan'ao, November 2009
Nan'ao County Public Information photo

Nan'ao County Lighthouses
Note: Nan'ao County is administered as part of Shantou Prefectural City. The county includes the large island of Nan'aodao as well as the Nanpeng (South Penghu) Islands in the Taiwan Strait.
Laoniujiao (Liuniujiao) (2)
1991 (station established 1980). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, mounted on a round pier. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available, and Google has only a very distant satellite view of the reef. Located on a reef about 10 km (6 mi) northeast of the island of Nan'aodao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4009; Admiralty F3596.
Qingyu (Zhelinwan, Che-Lin Wan) (2)
1983 (station established 1955). Active; focal plane 46.5 m (153 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, covered with white ceramic tiles. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on Qingyu, an island in the middle of the entrance to Zhelin Bay, about 10 km (6 mi) north of Nan'aodao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4011; Admiralty F3597.62; NGA 19207.
Heijiao
1987. Active; focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft); two red flashes every 4 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) square cylindrical tower with gallery, covered with ceramic tiles colored white with a narrow red vertical stripe on each face. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located on a shoal off the northeastern corner of Xunzhoudao in Zhelin Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4013.
Feng Yu (2)
2006 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 8 s. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. The original light had a focal plane of 24 m (79 ft). Feng Yu is a small but high island halfway between Nan'aodao and the mainland. Located on an islet just off the southern tip of Feng Yu. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4022; Admiralty F3587.58.
** Nan'aodao
2009. Active; focal plane 78 m (256 ft); white flash every 8 s. 30 m (98 ft) vase-shaped tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is white with narrow red vertical stripes and red trim. Liang Jin has a photo, and Google has a good satellite view. This new major lighthouse has a range of 33 km (21 mi). Intended both as a navigational aid and a tourist attraction, the lighthouse was dedicated on 28 November 2009. Located on a promontory at the southeastern point of Nan'aodao. Site and tower probably open, but no details are available. Admiralty F3587.74.
Nanpengdao (Nanpeng Liedao, Nanpeng Islands) (2)
1994 (station established 1874). Active; focal plane 92 m (302 ft); white flash every 12 s. 23 m (75 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and observation room, centered on a square 1-story equipment building. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. MSA's photo is at right, the Guangdong Communications Administration has a photo (fourth photo on the page), and Google has a distant satellite view of the station. A shorter tower next to the lighthouse may be the original lighthouse, a 16.5 m (54 ft) cast iron tower. The Nanpeng (South Penghu) Islands are a chain of small islands located about 25 km (15 mi) southeast of Nan'aodao and about 60 km (38 mi) east of Shantou. The lighthouse guides ships approaching the Taiwan Strait and also serves as a landfall light for Shantou. Located on Nanpengdao, the highest and southernmost island of the group. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed (strategic military area). ARLHS PRC-046; CN-4002; Admiralty F3587.7; NGA 19206.
Nanpengdao Light
Nanpengdao Light, Taiwan Strait
PRC Maritime Safety Administration photo

Shantou (Swatow) City Lighthouses
Dezhoudao No. 1 Range Front
2009. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); continuous red light. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, colored white with a red vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Presumably the Dezhoudao lighthouse (next entries) is the rear light of this range. Located at the eastern point of Dezhoudao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F3593.
Dezhoudao (Te Chou Tao, Luyu, Lu Hsu) (1)
1880. Inactive since 1997. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A photo is at right. The lighthouse has been carefully restored. Located adjacent to the new lighthouse (next entry).
Dezhoudao (Te Chou Tao, Luyu, Lu Hsu) (2)
1997 (station established 1880). Active; focal plane 74 m (243 ft); white flash every 5 s. 23 m (75 ft) octagonal hourglass-shaped tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse covered with white ceramic tile; lantern painted white with a red roof. A photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Dezhoudao is an island in the entrance to the Shantou Jiang, the estuary that is Shantou's harbor. Located at the eastern end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4030; Admiralty F3591; NGA 19216.
Shantou Range #1 Front (2)
1995 (station established 1979). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); continuous white light. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Lighthouse covered with ceramic tiles colored white with a red vertical stripe on the range line. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located about 120 m (400 ft) southeast and downslope from the Dezhoudao lighthouses. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4032; Admiralty F3593; NGA 19224.
* Shantou Range #1 Rear (2)
1995 (station established 1979). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white flash every 2 s. 39 m (128 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Lighthouse covered with ceramic tiles colored white with a red vertical stripe on the range line. The top of the tower is seen in the right background of a photo, but a cloud blocks Google's satellite view. The original light, a skeletal tower, has been removed. Located on the eastern side of an island in Shantou Jiang. The island is accessible from an exit from the bridge across the estuary. Site status unknown, but certainly the lighthouse can be viewed from nearby. CN-4033; Admiralty F3593.1; NGA 19224.1.
Guiyu (2)
1996 (station established 1979). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower (?) with gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on an island in Shantou harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4049; Admiralty F3595.3.
Dezhoudao Light
Dezhoudao Lights, Shantou
PRC Maritime Safety Administration photo
Chijiaoyu (Chijiao Yu) (2)
2009 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island about 5 km (3 mi) north of Biaojiao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4025; Admiralty F3589; NGA 19230.
* Biaojiao (Biao Jiao, Good Hope Cape, Table Cape, Swatow) (2)
1992 (station established 1880). Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); white flash every 8 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; the lantern dome is also red. Several keeper's cottages and other station buildings. A photo is at right, a 2011 photo, a closeup, and a foggy 2012 photo are availlable, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was a 6.7 m (22 ft) cast iron tower; we do not know if this historic building was preserved. Located on a prominent cape about 20 km (13 mi) southeast of Shantou. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PRC-009; CN-4024; Admiralty F3588; NGA 19208.
Haimen Entrance Range Front
1961. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white light, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 6 m (20 ft) round concrete tower, covered with ceramic tiles colored white with a black vertical stripe on the range line. No photo available, but the tower is centered in a Google satellite view. Located in a field about 250 m (800 ft) above the estuary on the west side of Haimen harbor. Site status unknown. CN-4055; Admiralty 3587.1.
Haimen Entrance Range Rear
1961. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white light, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower, covered with ceramic tiles colored white with a black vertical stripe on the range line. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) north northwest of the front light. Site status unknown. CN-4056; Admiralty 3587.11.
Haimen Inner Range Front
1961. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white light, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 6 m (20 ft) round concrete tower. Lighthouse covered with ceramic tiles colored white with two black vertical stripes and a white vertical stripe on the range line. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This range apparently guides vessels leaving the harbor of Haimen. Located about 800 m (1/2 mi) northeast of the entrance range front light. Site status unknown. CN-4059.
Haimen Inner Range Rear
1961. Active; focal plane 17.5 m (57 ft); white light, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower. Lighthouse covered with ceramic tiles colored white with two black vertical stripes and a white vertical stripe on the range line. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located about 135 m (450 ft) southwest of the front light. Site status unknown. CN-4060.
Biaojiao Light
Biao Jiao Light, Shantou
PRC Maritime Safety Administration photo

Jieyang City Lighthouse
* Shibeishan (Jinghaijiao) (3)
1990 (station established 1880). Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); white flash every 15 s. 59 m (195 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and a hexagonal observation room, centered on a 2-story hexagonal control building. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. A Guangdong MSA Office photo is at right, the Baidu Encyclopedia has an article (in Chinese) on the lighthouse, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. This soaring tower is the third tallest Chinese lighthouse (after Mulan Tou and Baisha Men on the island of Hainan) and one of the best known lighthouses of South China. Jinghaijiao (Cape Jinghai) is not very high, but it is the point where the trend of the coastline changes from mostly east-west to northeast-southwest. The original lighthouse, a 37 m (121 ft) cast iron tower, was destroyed during World War II. It was replaced in 1948 by a 34 m (111 ft) cast iron tower. Located on Cape Jinghai, about 25 km (15 mi) southeast of Huilai. Accessible by road. Site probably open, tower closed. CN-4073; Admiralty F3586; NGA 19264.

Shanwei City Lighthouses
Jiazijiao (Jiazi Jiao, Kupchi Point) (2)
2007 (station established 1955). Active; focal plane 71.5 m (235 ft); white flash every 4 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. Li Wen Hang has a distant photo, and Google has a good satellite view. The original light was on an 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical brick tower rising from a square 1-story keeper's house. Located on a prominent cape about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Jiazi. Accessible by road. Site possibly open, tower closed. CN-4075; Admiralty F3585; NGA 19272.
Tianweijiao (Tianwei Jiao, Tien-wei Chiao) (4?)
Date unknown (station established 1955). Active; focal plane 83 m (272 ft); three white flashes every 9 s. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse covered with ceramic tiles colored white with narrow red horizontal bands; the lantern is red. A 2009 photo is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. This light marks the eastern entrance to a semicircular bay, Jieshi Wan. Located on a high promontory about 10 km (6 mi) south of Jieshi. Accessible by road. Site possibly open, tower closed. CN-4078; Admiralty F3584; NGA 19276.
Shibeishan Light
Shibeishan Light, Huilai
PRC MSA Guangdong Region photo
Zhelang (Zhelang Jiao, Che-lang Piao) (2?)
Date unknown (station established 1911). Inactive since 2007. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery and a small lantern, mounted on a round stone base. Lighthouse painted white; the stone base is unpainted. This light is seen next to the new lighthouse in the photo at right.
Zhelang (Zhelang Jiao, Che-lang Piao) (3?)
2007 (station established 1911). Active; focal plane 63 m (207 ft); white flash every 5 s. 30 m (98 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse covered with white ceramic tiles; lantern painted red. A photo is at right, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view of the station. This light marks the western entrance to Jieshi Wan. Located on a sharp promontory at the eastern end of Shanwei City. Site status unknown. CN-4080; Admiralty F3582; NGA 19280.

Huizhou City Lighthouse
Daxingshan (Ta Shing Shan, Fuji Jiao, Fokai Point) (2)
1996 (station established 1955). Active; focal plane 219 m (718 ft); white flash every 13 s. 24.5 m (80 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, a large round observation room, and six ribs, attached to a 2-story control building. Lighthouse covered with white ceramic tiles; lantern painted red. Guangdong MSA has a photo, Wenzhou MSA also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse stands on a high promontory at the western end of Honghai Bay, about 80 km (50 mi) east northeast of Hong Kong. Daxingshan means "Big Star Mountain." Located about 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of Pinghai. Accessible by road. Site possibly open, tower closed. CN-4085.2; Admiralty F3581.298; NGA 19288.
Daya Wan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); one long white flash every 8 s. 23 m (76 ft) white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on an island in the east side of the entrance to Daya Bay (Daya Wan). Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. NGA 19289.
Mabian Zhou Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white light, 2 s on, 4 s off. 57 m (187 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a square concrete pier. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located in Daya Bay about 2.2 km (1.4 mi) south of the rear light (next entry). Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F3581.27.
Zhelang Light
Zhelang Light, Shanwei
PRC Maritime Safety Administration photo
Mabian Zhou Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 59 m (194 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 57 m (187 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located on an islet near the center of Daya Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F3581.271.
Huizhou Gang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) hexagonal stone tower, painted yellow. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal off Huizhou harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F3581.242.
Hutoumen Shuido
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted black with a red horizontal band. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal off Hutou Zui. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CN-4087.2; Admiralty F3581.236.
Hutouzui (Hutou Zui)
2008. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse is white, lantern roof red. A photo and a view from the sea are available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a promontory on the west side of Daya Bay. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F3581.234.
Xiaocizhou (Xiachi Zhou) (2)
1988 (station established 1955). Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); white flash every 8 s. 8 m (26 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, painted white. A distant view is available, and Google has a good satellite view. Located on a small island near the center of Daya Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4087; Admiralty F3581.228; NGA 19289.5.
Yuan Zhou
2009. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 2 s. 10 m (33 ft) square white concrete tower with gallery. No photo available, and Google's satellite view does not show the light. Located on a reef about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Hutouzui. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F3581.23.
Baitou Zhou
2008. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); three white flashes every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) square white concrete tower with gallery. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the east end of a small island about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Hutouzui. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F3581.224.
Xiaolajia
2008. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the east end of a small island about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Hutouzui. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F3581.222.
Dashuang Zhou
2008. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); white flash every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island in the entrance to Daya Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F3581.22.
Qingzhou (Qing Zhou, Ching Chou) (2)
1997 (station established 1989). Active; focal plane 107.5 m (352 ft); white flash every 6 s. 19.5 m (64 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse covered with white ceramic tiles; lantern painted red. MSA's photo is at right, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Qingzhou is a small island on the eastern approach to Hong Kong, about 50 km (30 mi) east of the city. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CN-4089.4; Admiralty F3580.98; NGA 19290.
Qingzhou Light
Qingzhou Light, Huizhou
PRC Maritime Safety Administration photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Southern Fujian | West: Hong Kong

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Posted October 8, 2008. Checked and revised August 15, 2012. Lighthouses: 36. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.