Every summer, the water around Taiwan’s Matsu Archipelago cries blue tears. At least this is how locals refer to the bioluminescent phenomenon that is caused by dinoflagellate plankton called noctiluca scintillans.
The concentration of plankton and, therefore, the intensity of the glow depends on many factors: weather, temperature, darkness, etc. Unfortunately, this means you aren’t guaranteed to see the phenomenon. But if you plan your trip intelligently and if luck favors you, you can simply head to the beach on one of the archipelago’s islands and see the water come to life when it crashes on the rocks or on the shore.
We recommend taking a ferry from the main island of Taiwan to Nangan and enjoying the phenomenon there. If you want a more intense experience, you can also book a tour through the Beihai Tunnel, where you’ll be in complete darkness, with nothing but the luminous plankton to light your way.
