The Wai'an Fishing Boat Lights are the highlight of the Lantern Festival in Penghu. The Wen Wang Temple, the village's spiritual center, is the locus of festivities. "Peace bridges” hung with lanterns, divination blocks, “good luck turtles," and the deity Wen Wang's night patrol are all part of the celebration. But the Wai'an Fishing Boat Lights, where nearly a hundred boats gather in the harbor, draw the biggest crowds.
West Sanxian Pagoda is the best place to view the fishing boat lights. Gazing down from the mountaintop in the daytime feels like standing on the Greek isle of Santorini. Some refer to the site as “Penghu’s Little Greece.” West Sanxian Pagoda was purposely built on a cliff to ward off evil spirits.
Two hills in Wai'an Village face each other, one on the east, the other on the west. Early settlers called the eastern hilltop "Man Left” and the western hilltop "Woman Right." Fishing is Waian’s primary industry; men often face unexpected perils at sea. However, the “male” eastern hill is relatively lower than the “female” western hill. Therefore, the local deity, Wen Wangye, instructed villagers to erect three stone pagodas on the eastern and western hilltops. People believe they can help extend men’s lives, allowing couples to grow old together.
The "bait cannon" is another Wai'an attraction. Shortly before the Second World War, the Japanese army built a fake cannon with cement to mislead the US military –– a truly unique military installation!