Kaohsiung Lighthouse

Coordinates: 22°36′55.5″N 120°15′53.8″E / 22.615417°N 120.264944°E / 22.615417; 120.264944

The Kaohsiung Lighthouse (Chinese: 高雄燈塔; pinyin: Gāoxióng Dēngtǎ), also called Cihou Lighthouse (Chinese: 旗後燈塔; pinyin: Qíhòu Dēngtǎ) or Cijin Lighthouse (Chinese: 旗津燈塔; pinyin: Qíjīn Dēngtǎ), is a lighthouse in Qijin District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

History

After the signing of Convention of Peking in 1860 during the Qing Dynasty rule, the Takau Harbor was opened to foreign traders in 1863. With increasing commercial shipping activities and a lack of a proper ship navigation system, the British engineers built a Chinese-style rectangular red-brick lighthouse at the top of Mount Ki-au (旗後山), at the southern side of the harbor.

During the Japanese rule, in line with the expansion of the harbor, the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1916 as part of the project. It underwent renovation in 1918 to what it looks like today. The base of the lighthouse building was rebuilt in Baroque style.

In 1985, the lighthouse was rated a Class 3 Building of Historical Interest by the Ministry of the Interior and was subsequently opened to the public.

Lighthouse

A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and used as a navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

Lighthouses mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, safe entries to harbors, and can also assist in aerial navigation. Once widely used, the number of operational lighthouses has declined due to the expense of maintenance and use of electronic navigational systems.

History

Ancient lighthouses

Before the development of clearly defined ports, mariners were guided by fires built on hilltops. Since raising the fire would improve the visibility, placing the fire on a platform became a practice that led to the development of the lighthouse. In antiquity, the lighthouse functioned more as an entrance marker to ports than as a warning signal for reefs and promontories, unlike many modern lighthouses. The most famous lighthouse structure from antiquity was the Pharos of Alexandria, although it collapsed during an earthquake centuries later.

Lighthouse (Lucy Spraggan song)

"Lighthouse" is a single by English musician Lucy Spraggan. The song was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 28 June 2013 as the lead single from her debut studio album. The song was written by Lucy Spraggan, James Flannigan and The Ordinary Boys frontman Preston. The song has peaked to number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.

Background

The song was inspired by a journey Lucy made across America at the age of 18 with just her guitar and a three-month Visa, Lucy said, "Lighthouses are my good omen. When I was in the US and stuff went wrong, when I'd miss the last bus or I'd run out of money, I'd always see a lighthouse on a piece of paper, beer bottle or in real life then things would start getting better."

Live performances

On 15 July 2013, Spraggan performed the song live on BBC Breakfast.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Lighthouse" was first released onto YouTube on 22 May 2013 at a total length of three minutes and twenty-two seconds. The video shows Lucy performing the track in a rehearsal space, while other scenes see her wandering around the city at dusk.

Magnetized (album)

Magnetized is the third album by Johnny Hates Jazz released on May 24, 2013. This album was the band's first album in 22 years, after Tall Stories and the departure of fellow bandmates Calvin Hayes and Phil Thornalley. The album, was followed by the release of the same-titled lead single, along with a corresponding music video.

Critical reception

Upon release Magnetized received highly favorable reviews from critics. Radio Creme Brulee stated that the album might be 2013's "pop album of the year". Nick Pett of Backseat Mafia gave the album a more mixed review, but later said that the album "isn't all bad.."

Track listing

All songs written by Datchler and produced by Nocito.

References