White tower
By the sea.
Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0
An elegant white lighthouse on Taiwan's southern tip, first lit in 1883 under the Qing dynasty to warn ships off dangerous coral reefs. Walls with rifle slits were built around it for defence, making it one of the world's rare armed lighthouses; it was rebuilt after war damage. The white cylindrical tower rises above low white arched buildings in a green garden at the sea's edge, and its beam is among the most powerful of Taiwan's lighthouses, nicknamed the Light of East Asia. A trail through Eluanbi Park around the lighthouse winds among uplifted coral rocks, small caves and tropical plants to decks over the ocean. A few minutes away is Taiwan's southernmost point with its monument. The park ticket is about TWD 60, per visitor guides; winter winds are strong, so bring a jacket. Taiwan's typhoon season runs from June to October, peaking July to September, so check forecasts before heading to mountains and coasts, per UK travel advice.
By the sea.
Small caves.
A monument.
Eluanbi Park, Taiwan's southern tip
Walls with rifle slits were built around it in the 19th century for defence, making it one of the world's rare armed lighthouses.