Watching Blue Tears

The precious Blue Tears can be appreciated from May to September annually, although this can only happen through luck, not plans. If you want to watch Blue Tears, leave your trip to Matsu some extra days with a relaxed and happy mindset. With the right tidal time and winds, your chance of seeing such treasures of the nature will greatly improve.

To increase your chance of seeing Blue Tears in the tunnel at night, no light pollution will be allowed. But this can make the journey more risky, too. To ensure your own safety, do wear life jackets all the way through, and never stand up or play around. Follow the staff member’s instructions.

Blue Tears Map

Watch videos：Tear in Blue Micro Film

Sea sparkle

The bioluminescent sea (sea sparkle) in the Matsu archipelago is a famous tourist attraction with a romantic name – blue tears. Noctiluca scintillans is known to be the dominant bioluminescent dinoflagellate in the Matsu archipelago. Noctiluca scintillans are divided into green and red populations by mode of nutrition in the world. The former has a photosynthetic endosymbiont, Protoeuglena noctilucae, and the latter, i.e., the population found in Matsu, is exclusively phagotrophic. Its blooms are irregular and seem to be a response to the unpredictable climatic factors and typically occur in spring and summer and result in viscous, red, surface waters.

The seasonal variations of N. scintillans, accompanied by hydrographic, biological and meteorological data, were record by a daily census during the bloom season and twice a week thereafter in 2016. We found that N. scintillans in the Matsu archipelago disappeared when the sea water temperature exceeded 27 °C. Diatoms suffer high grazing pressure from N. scintillans during the flood season, when diatoms are most abundant. The Matsu archipelago is located along the Chinese coast near the mouth of the Minjiang River. Its diluted water, which influences the thermohaline properties of the seawater has a seasonal character, being most apparent during the flood season in April, May and June, and least apparent during the non-flood season from July to the following March. The wind speed and wind direction also can influence on the accumulation of N. scintillans cells.

Location:
Beihai Tunnel, Nangan Township

Event Period:
The annual Blue Tears tour operates by reservation from March 1 to November 30.
The activity runs nightly from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a total of six sessions per night.
Each session accommodates 48 participants, and the sailing time is approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Reservations are accepted starting today for dates within the upcoming month.

Full Fare: NT$350

General public.

Concession Ticket: NT$300
Eligibility (ID required):

1. Children aged 3 to 12 with household registration in Taiwan.

2. Seniors aged 65 and above with household registration in Taiwan.

Half Fare: NT$150
Eligibility (ID required):

1. Persons holding a disability certificate and one accompanying person.

2. Active military personnel with military ID.

Resident Ticket: NT$100
Eligibility (ID required):

Residents with household registration in Matsu, presenting a national ID card.

Tieren Leisure & Recreation Co., Ltd.

• Phone: (0836) 22177

• Fax: (0836) 23077

• LINE ID: @gen6594n

• E-mail: Tieren22177@outlook.com

• Reservation Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the tunnel.

• Individuals who are intoxicated or hungover are not allowed to participate. Participants with claustrophobia, heart disease, or epilepsy should assess their own condition before joining.

• Life jackets must be worn throughout the entire activity. Removing or unfastening the buckles is strictly prohibited for safety.

• Do not stand up, move around, or change seats during the activity. Please safeguard your personal belongings; any loss will be at your own responsibility.

• Blue Tears is a natural phenomenon, and its appearance cannot be guaranteed.

• In cases where force majeure affects the tour, a full refund will be issued.

• Please park your car or motorcycle at the Visitor Center parking lot and walk to the Beihai Tunnel. Arrive 15 minutes early to purchase tickets.

• Staff will check all safety equipment, complete preparations, and stand by for departure.

• After purchasing tickets, visitors will receive an introduction to the scene, safety instructions, guidance on how to properly wear a life jacket, and will sign the acknowledgment form.

• All participants must wear a life jacket. Only after proper inspection may they enter the floating platform (restricted area).

• Visitors will be guided in order onto the floating platform (restricted area) and assisted in boarding.

• Once boats depart in sequence, the floating platform lights will be turned off. Only staff members may remain in the platform area to ensure safety control.

• The captain must ensure safety during navigation and report the latest situation at any time.

• When the boat approaches within 20 meters of the platform, the captain will notify staff to turn on the platform lights. Upon arrival, staff will assist visitors in disembarking and guide

• them to the service desk before removing their life jackets.

• After the event, staff must confirm that all visitors have safely exited the tunnel before turning off the lights and locking the entrance.