Cijin Beach and Lighthouse is a twin-heritage site on Cihou Hill in Kaohsiung: the original lighthouse was built in 1883 by a British engineer and rebuilt into today's white octagonal tower by Japanese authorities in 1918, standing beside Cihou Fort, with Cijin's most popular beach at the foot of the hill.
The original Cihou Lighthouse was a brick, square tower built in 1883 (the 9th year of the Guangxu era) under the Qing government by a British engineer — Taiwan's second lighthouse after Eluanbi. To accommodate the expansion of Kaohsiung Harbor, Japanese authorities rebuilt it between 1916 and 1918 into the white octagonal brick tower seen today, standing about 11 meters tall; it was designated a Kaohsiung municipal historic site on November 27, 1985.
Highlights of Cijin Beach and Lighthouse
Cijin Peninsula stretches about 10 kilometers and is only a few hundred meters wide, serving as a natural breakwater for Kaohsiung Harbor. Cihou Lighthouse was first built in 1883 (the 9th year of Guangxu, Qing dynasty); the existing white octagonal lighthouse was redesigned and rebuilt by a British engineer and is listed as a municipal historic site. The adjacent Cihou Fort, also built during the Qing era, is well-preserved. Standing on its walls, you can look out over the Kaohsiung Harbor Bridge and the full harbor panorama — a setting with a palpable sense of history.
Cijin Beach lies on the western side of the peninsula and is the nearest sandy beach reachable on foot or by bicycle from central Kaohsiung. The beach stretches roughly 2.5 kilometers and has changing rooms, rinse facilities, and lifeguard service (during designated open periods). The peninsula's streets retain early fishing-village architecture, and seafood restaurants, a long-established bakery, and local snacks such as marlin fish cake are concentrated in the commercial area around the ferry pier.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- Take the MRT Orange Line to Yanchengpu Station (O2) or O1 Sizihwan Station and walk to Gushan Ferry Pier. Ferries run frequently throughout the day.
- Ferry fares and last departure times are set by the Kaohsiung City Government Ocean Bureau; service is suspended during typhoons.
- Cihou Lighthouse opening hours are subject to the Cultural Affairs Bureau's official announcements; it may be closed during maintenance periods.
Nearby Connections
- On the return trip, explore the Hamasen Railway Cultural Park near Gushan Pier, or walk to the Sizihwan sunset viewpoint.
- YouBike is available across Cijin for a loop of the island. The Cijin Lighthouse Park at the southern end offers views of the Gaoping River estuary.
Source: Kaohsiung City Cultural Affairs Bureau data on Cihou Lighthouse and Fort heritage sites; Kaohsiung City Ocean Bureau ferry route information. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cihou Lighthouse built?
The original lighthouse dates to 1883, designed by a British engineer; the white octagonal tower seen today was rebuilt by Japanese authorities between 1916 and 1918.
How do you get to Cijin?
Take the roughly 5-minute ferry ride from Gushan Ferry Pier.
Is Cijin Beach open year-round?
The beach is walkable year-round, but lifeguard service is concentrated in summer (June to September).
Are the lighthouse and the fort the same site?
They are adjacent but separate heritage sites, together known as Cijin's Twin Heritage Sites, both atop Cihou Hill.
Sources
- 高雄燈塔 - 維基百科 — 燈塔建造/改建年份及古蹟登錄日期