Lighthouses serve as important markers by which sailors steer their boats, and they make an important contribution to shipping safety. As a follow-up to “Lighthouses Postage Stamps (Issue of 2019),” Chunghwa Post has released a set of five stamps on the following lighthouses: the Chiutzu Shan Lighthouse, the Kuosheng Kan Lighthouse, the Peiting Tao Lighthouse, the Hualien Kan Lighthouse and the Taiping Island Lighthouse. Descriptions of their designs follow:
1. Chiutzu Shan Lighthouse (NT$8): Located atop Chiutzu Shan Hill on the west side of Keelung Port, the lighthouse was built in 1956. The first lighthouse designed and constructed in Taiwan by ROC citizens, it features a white square tower made of reinforced concrete. It is not currently in use.
2. Kuosheng Kan Lighthouse (NT$8): Located at Kuosheng Kan in the Cigu District of Tainan City, the lighthouse was first constructed in 1957. It acquired its current appearance when it was rebuilt in 1970. The square tapered steel tower, painted black and white in alternating sections, is the westernmost lighthouse on Taiwan proper.
3. Peiting Tao Lighthouse (NT$8): Located atop a hill on Peiting (“north ting”) Tao in Kinmen County, the round white lighthouse was built in 1882 of brick. Together with the lighthouse on Tungting (“east ting”) Tao, it creates the appearance of a pair of horns.
4. Hualien Kan Lighthouse (NT$12): Located on Huagang Hill overlooking Hualien Kan, the lighthouse was constructed in 1910 and rebuilt in 1964, when it acquired its current appearance. Located advantageously with a great view, the white square tapered iron tower has a smaller lamp than other iron lighthouses.
5. Taiping Island Lighthouse (NT$15): Located on Taiping Island of the Nansha (Spratly) Islands in the South China Sea, the lighthouse was completed in 2015. The unmanned round white tower, which is made of reinforced concrete, is Taiwan’s southernmost lighthouse.
(1) First Day Cover in large size (195 mm × 120 mm): NT$3 apiece
(2) Folder (with or without mount): NT$8 apiece
(3) Loose-leaf album page: NT$8 apiece
(4) Maximum cards: NT$50 a set
(5) Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with one NT$8-denominated stamp: NT$11 apiece
(6) Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with a full set of stamps: NT$54 apiece
To purchase the relative philatelic products, please go directly to the post office branches, Postal Museum or order on line at
https://stamp.post.gov.tw.