Paddle in a transparent canoe to see the Blue Tears phenomenon – a real-life version of the stunning scenery from Life of Pi

By MOOK Travel Editorial Team

Want to see the world-famous Blue Tears in Matsu? Aside from watching from the shore, you can also get up close and personal by canoeing out on the sea. The Matsu National Scenic Area Administration has launched a bay tour canoe activity, and this year they’ve introduced the latest trend – “transparent canoes” – and are now offering evening experience sessions.

The Matsu National Scenic Area Administration has launched a Diversified Deep-Rooted Plan for Bay Tour Experiential Tourism. They’ve invited instructors from the Taipei Canoe Association to provide hands-on training. There are daytime canoe experiences as well as nighttime ones, including the very special transparent canoe activity, where one-on-one coaching is also available on-site.

The canoe experience takes place at Fu Zheng Beach, a popular spot on Juguang. Fu Zheng Beach is a rare sandy geological landscape in Matsu, featuring soft, white sand. It’s also the habitat for Matsu clams, boasting rich intertidal ecology, even earning the nickname “the refrigerator of Dongyin.”

Daytime canoeing must coincide with high tide, so activities take place within two hours before or after the tide is at its highest, meaning departure times vary daily. Evenings also depend on tidal conditions—canoes only go out when there’s water movement—and follow a one-canoe-one-coach policy to ensure safe paddling at night.

Since viewing the Blue Tears is usually affected by light pollution, canoeing avoids that issue. Plus, with the transparent design of the canoes, you can see the Blue Tears up close and clearly, as if a blue galaxy is flowing beneath your feet – a dreamlike scene reminiscent of a Life of Pi movie moment.