150th anniversary of Qingyu Lighthouse
The day of 23 September 2024 marked the sesquicentennial anniversary of Qingyu lighthouse, and a seminar entitled Protection of Historical Lighthouses and the Propaganda of AtoN Culture was held to commemorate this special occasion.
Qingyu Lighthouse, one of the longest-serving lighthouses on the east coast of China, is the responsibility of the cultural relic protection unit of Fujian province, was built in 1875.
Standing on Qingyu Island at entrance of Xiamen port, Qingyu lighthouse is octagonal in plan, 1.35 metres in side and 10 metres in height, with masonry structure and brick interior. The inner stone ladder curves upwards to the top of the lighthouse.
The lights
The development of technology is progressing at an incredible pace, and optical devices of Qingyu Lighthouse match these developments in its 150-year service to the mariner.
Qingyu Lighthouse has witnessed the use of oil lamps, fuel-powered steam lights, automated electric lights, AGA∮375MM lights, FA-251 lights, PRB46Ⅰlights, FA-251 lights, ML-300 lights, FA-251 lights, APRB-252 lights, and TRB-400 lights. Currently, the Qingyu Lighthouse is equipped with TRB-400 as the main light and the ML-300 as the auxiliary light, with a range of 18 nautical miles.
The seminar
Deputy Secretary General of IALA, Deputy Director General of China MSA, main officers of the AtoN Authority, local dignitaries, and experts and scholars from fourteen countries including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia and Egypt, attended the seminar, which was held in the Former Amoy Harbour Master’s Office of Xiamen AtoN division on Gulangyu island.
Experts and scholars made presentations and discussions from various perspectives around nine sub-topics. Omar Frits Eriksson, Deputy Secretary General of IALA, expressed his appreciation for the historical value and cultural charm of Qingyu Lighthouse, stressing that the successful holding of the seminar opened up the international communication channel of lighthouse culture and was an effective and innovative way to promote the publicity of AtoN culture and the protection of historical lighthouses.
Qingyu Lighthouse has witnessed more than a century of trials and tribulations and remains well-preserved, which is still performing the function of guiding domestic and oversea ships to entry and exit Xiamen port safely. Qingyu Lighthouse is like an exquisite stamp sent from the past to the future, conveying the unique charm of China lighthouses to the world with their distinctive historical value, cultural significance, and architectural beauty.
Based on material kindly provided by XiamenAids to Navigation Department of East Navigation Service Center of China.
Rapporteur: Paul Ridgway
