Qígānzuǐ Lighthouse

Also known as: Qígānzuǐ (Qigan Zui, Flagstaff Point)

A cylindrical concrete tower, 15 meters high with a red lantern roof, stands on a steep-sided rock near Weihai. The lighthouse was first lit in 1898, replacing an earlier structure destroyed during the Sino-Japanese War. The 1898 tower, built by the British, was itself destroyed by Japanese naval gunfire in 1945. A skeletal tower was erected in 1951, followed by the current concrete structure by 1976. The Qígānzuǐ light emits a white flash every 12 seconds from a focal height of 25 meters, visible for 14.3 nautical miles.

Why it matters: This lighthouse is a critical navigational aid in a redeveloped coastal area, guiding vessels past the steep-sided rock it occupies. Its history reflects the region's geopolitical shifts, with multiple structures destroyed in conflicts, highlighting its strategic importance for maritime control and safety over more than a century.