The art of the chase: Timing, patience, and serendipity
From Nangan and Beigan to Dongyin and Juguang, each island in the Matsu archipelago offers a unique vantage point for “tear-chasing.” Some visitors wait on sandy beaches for the glowing “tear waves” to wash ashore, while others splash water by the piers to coax out the light, or take boats out to sea to watch the hull carve a brilliant blue wake through the darkness.
The Beihai Tunnel on Nangan is widely considered one of the most accessible spots for beginners. The calm, stable waters inside the wartime tunnel create an ideal environment for the organisms to thrive. However, because there are no natural waves within the cavern, visitors must gently splash the water themselves to awaken the speckles of blue light, which dance across the surface like a reflection of the starry night sky.
That said, witnessing the Blue Tears is never a guaranteed prospect. Tides, water temperature, wind direction, and even the brightness of the moonlight all play crucial roles. Every evening, enthusiastic tear-chasers exchange intelligence on social media: “Is the water clear today?” “Where is the wind weakest?” “Are we approaching high tide?” Much like chasing the aurora borealis, spotting the Blue Tears requires the perfect alignment of timing, location, and a little bit of luck.