Along Pingtan’s rugged eastern coast lies Moon Tear Cove – a half-mile stretch of porcelain-white sand that glows electric blue under moonlight. While travel blogs rave about Pingtan’s “Blue Tears,” old fishermen still whisper about this truly spectacular bioluminescent beach. Yet you’ll find no signs pointing to it, no tour boats approaching it, and certainly no Instagram geotags revealing it. After three months of earning local trust, I learned why this natural wonder remains fiercely protected – and how rare visitors can experience it respectfully.
The Deadly Allure of Moon Tear Cove
What makes this beach so extraordinary also makes it treacherous:
- The Bioluminescence Phenomenon
Unlike the common Blue Tears plankton, Moon Tear Cove’s glow comes from a rare combination of noctiluca scintillans and a unique phosphorescent bacteria in its tidal pools. During summer’s new moon, the entire shoreline shimmers like liquid sapphire underfoot. - Ancient Maritime History
The cove’s sea caves contain 800-year-old carvings by Ming Dynasty fishermen – considered sacred petitions to the Dragon King for safe voyages. Many contain still-legible prayers for sons lost at sea. - Natural Defense System
A submerged shelf creates deceptively calm-looking waters that conceal deadly rip currents. The local saying goes: “The Dragon’s Mouth smiles before it swallows.”
Why Outsiders Are Discouraged
After a near-tragedy in 2018, villagers formed an unofficial protection pact:
The Incident That Changed Everything
In July 2018, a travel blogger’s drone footage went viral, leading to 137 cars illegally parking along fragile dunes in one weekend. The aftermath included:
- Three drowning rescues (one fatal)
- Litter that smothered plankton breeding grounds
- Spray paint defacing ancient carvings
Current Protection Measures
- Strategic Misinformation: Taxi drivers will claim the beach “was destroyed in a typhoon”
- Natural Barriers: Farmers allow their goats to overgraze the access path
- Community Watch: Elderly villagers take turns monitoring the approach road
How to Visit Without Becoming Part of the Problem
For researchers or truly devoted nature lovers, there are two ethical ways to potentially gain access:
Option 1: The Academic Approach
Contact Pingtan Marine Research Institute at least 30 days in advance with:
- Official institutional letterhead
- Study proposal
- ¥2000 “conservation donation”
Option 2: The Fisherman’s Permission
Old Wu (the last living carver of traditional fishing charms) occasionally guides small groups when:
- You arrive during the fishing off-season (Feb-Apr)
- Bring offerings of Baijiu and dried squid
- Can recite the local fishermen’s prayer
What to Expect If You Go
The Reward
- Bioluminescence so bright it casts shadows
- 1000-year-old “Tide Poems” carved in cave walls
- The rarest seashells in Fujian province
The Rules
- No shoes allowed on sand (barefoot only)
- Absolutely no photography after dark
- Take nothing but memories
Sustainable Alternatives
For 90% of visitors, these legal options offer similar magic:
- North Coral Beach – Government-protected bioluminescent area
- Dragon Scale Tide Pools – Safe daytime viewing of glowing plankton
- Haiwei Fishing Village – See traditional carvings in a museum setting
As Old Wu told me while repairing vandalism damage: “Some beauties aren’t meant for crowds. The ocean gives us miracles, but we must give it peace in return.” The cove’s fragile magic has survived centuries – whether it lasts another generation now depends on our restraint.
Local Insight: The bioluminescence appears strongest during the Hungry Ghost Festival (August). Fishermen believe it’s their ancestors returning to shore.
