Pixelated Chronicles: Navigating in the Dark: Tracing the Histories of Hong Kong's Lighthouses

Since 1875, Hong Kong has constructed lighthouses to facilitate smooth navigation in and out of its harbors, connecting the city to the world. In the era before electronic charts and global positioning systems, sailors at sea would see the light emitted by the lighthouse on Waglan Island and know they were close to reaching Hong Kong. For Hong Kong sailors, it was a signal that they were almost home. Lighthouses not only guide safe maritime passage but also carry significant geographical, historical, and cultural symbolism.

Currently, five lighthouses are listed as monuments by the Government: the Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse (1875), the Waglan Island Lighthouse (1893), two lighthouses on the Green Island (1895, 1904), and the Tang Lung Chau Lighthouse (1912). The City University of Hong Kong's Lighthouse Heritage Research and Connections Project (LHRC) has surveyed these historic lighthouses, documented their architectural structures and uncovering the century-old stories embedded within them. We hope that these lighthouses will continue to play a prominent physical and spiritual role as Hong Kong navigates its future.

Speakers: Prof. Charlie Xue & Richard Wong (Ex-members, Lighthouse Heritage Research Connection Project, The City University of Hong Kong)