Cape Eluanbi

Cape Eluanbi, also known as Oluanpi, is the southernmost point of Taiwan. It is located within the Hengchun Township of Pingtung County. This cape marks the southern tip of the Hengchun Peninsula. Geologically, the area consists of a Pleistocene stratum. This is a layer of earth made of yellow and brown sand, gravel, and clay. The nearby highlands are an extension of Taiwan's Central Mountain Range.

The cape sits at a major maritime crossroads. While some agreements place the boundary between the East and South China Seas at Cape Fugui, Eluanbi serves a different role. Under certain naming systems, it forms the boundary between the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea. It is also informally considered part of the Luzon Strait and the Bashi Channel. These waters sit between the territory of Taiwan and the Philippines.

Human history at the cape stretches back thousands of years. Archaeologists have found evidence of prehistoric habitation dating to approximately 3100 BC. These early people, known as the Oluanpi-I, shared similarities with the Xiantao culture. By 2500 BC, the Kenting culture introduced pottery and weaving to the area. Around 1500 BC, the Oluanpi-III group moved into more defensive highland communities. Later, the Paiwan people expanded from the north to inhabit the highlands. The Siraya people settled the lowlands starting in the 8th century.

The cape's history is also defined by its dangerous waters. Strong currents and the Qixingyan reefs caused many shipwrecks. These accidents led to international incidents involving American and Japanese vessels in the late 1800s. To improve safety, the Qing Empire began a public works program. This included the construction of a lighthouse at Eluanbi. British diplomat Robert Hart oversaw this project. Agents purchased the southern cape from local leaders in 1875. The lighthouse was finally completed and entered service in 1883.

Because of local tensions, the lighthouse was built as a fortified structure. It was protected by 18-pound cannons, Gatling guns, and a mortar. The site included enough provisions to survive a three-week siege. The lighthouse was managed by British customs officers and German military officers. During the First Sino-Japanese War, the structure was heavily damaged. It was later repaired in 1898 under Japanese occupation. The Japanese also popularized the cape as one of the Eight Views of Taiwan.

During the Japanese era, the cape became a center for the whaling industry. Whalers targeted humpback whales in Banana and South Bays.

This industry influenced the local culture and architecture. A Shinto shrine was built at the site. It was one of only five shrines in the world to use baleen whale jawbones for its torii gates. However, the shrine and the fortified lighthouse were both destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II.

Today, the area is part of the Kenting National Park. The Nationalist government rebuilt the lighthouse in 1947. In 1982, the lighthouse grounds were officially turned into a national park. The site is a major destination for travelers. By 2014, it was receiving more than 300,000 visitors every year.

Many people visit to see the viewing platform and the rock marker.

Nature thrives in the protected environment of the park. The Longkeng area near Banana Bay preserves coral reefs and old-growth forests. While native whales no longer live in these seas, other marine life remains. Visitors can see dolphins, sea turtles, and bull sharks. The cape is also a global hotspot for land crabs. It is home to 26 different species of terrestrial crabs. This makes it the most biologically diverse location for land crabs in the world.