Kaohsiung Lighthouse is Open for Night Tours

　Built in 1883, Kaohsiung Lighthouse is located atop the northern end of Cihou Mountain in Cijin District. It has guided ships safely for over a century and stood witness to the development of the Port of Kaohsiung. After more than three years of renovations, Kaohsiung Lighthouse has taken on a new look that integrates tourism and recreation, becoming the first lighthouse in Taiwan to open for nighttime visits.

　Kaohsiung Lighthouse stands on the commanding heights that guard the old entrance to the port, and the surrounding scenery is therefore unobstructed. While enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee on the viewing platform, one can take in a sweeping view of the port. As the sun sets and the lights come on, the port and the sea shimmer with a sparkling redness. The lighthouse takes on a distinct appearance when the illuminations are turned on; dazzling lights and shadows highlight the port's contours, and the lights also make it possible to clearly see Cijin Old Street and Pier-2, showcasing the area's breathtaking port scenery.

　Behind the main structure of the white lighthouse stands an octagonal brick tower topped by a black dome. The weather vane at the crest of the dome is the only one in the country to mark directions with Chinese characters: dong (east), si (west), nan (south), and bei (north).

　The lighthouse's interior now serves as a cultural exhibition venue, and the first exhibition held there is titled, “Lighthouse Keepers: The Guardians of the Marine Navigational Lights.” Through such exhibitions, visitors will gain an understanding of the lighthouse and the daily routines of those who keep lighthouses functioning, through various items and snippets of history. 

　The height of the lighthouse enables visitors to appreciate the beauty of rosy clouds, enjoy breathtaking sea scenery, and have a panoramic view of the port after dark. A visit to the lighthouse can be followed by an excursion to the nearby Cijin Star Tunnel. In the tunnel, look up and you will see glow-in-the-dark paintings of the 12 constellations. On the right-hand side of the tunnel exit lies the Maxwell Memorial Bike Path. This shortish bike trail is said by some to be one of the most charming bikeways in Cijin District. Tourists who visit Kaohsiung Lighthouse should not miss the spectacular combination of mountain and sea.

高雄燈塔 開放夜間參觀

　　設置於1883年的高雄燈塔位於旗津旗後山頂，百年來指引船隻，也見證高雄港的發展。高雄燈塔歷時三年多整修後，讓這座老燈塔，以結合觀光休閒的嶄新樣貌再出發，成為全國首座開放夜間參觀的燈塔。

　　高雄燈塔矗立在扼守港灣的制高點，四周風景一覽無遺，在觀景棧板悠閒地喝杯咖啡，從燈塔的視角欣賞高雄港從落日到點燈，只見高雄港以及海平面暈染得一片火紅；而點燈後的燈塔呈現另一番風情，璀璨光影描繪高雄港灣輪廓線，旗津老街、駁二碼頭，看見整個高雄港灣的壯闊景緻。

　　白色的燈塔主體後方為八角形磚塔，頂部燈室設計成圓筒狀，燈塔圓頂風向儀是全國唯一以漢字「東、西、南、北」標示方位，跨越世紀，屹立守護高雄港。

　　高雄燈塔內部也規劃為文化展覽場域。第一檔展覽為「燈塔守：守護海上導航之光的人」特展，透過百年燈塔與燈塔守(意即燈塔的守護者)的展覽，從歷史、器物、工作等不同面向，讓參觀者一窺燈塔與燈塔技工的工作日常。

　　從燈塔高處目送彩霞、飽覽海景，將入夜後的港灣夜色盡收眼底。逛完燈塔，還可順遊旗津星空隧道，隧道內抬頭就可看看12星座燈飾，隧道出口的右手邊緊接著就是馬雅各自行車道的起點，距離不長，有人說，這是旗津自行車道最迷人的一條，造訪高雄燈塔的遊客們，千萬不要錯過了依山傍海的美景。