On the evening of April 10, massive “Sea Sparkles” showed up on beaches across Pingtan, the island closest to the island of Taiwan from the mainland. 

Incoming blue ripples, like the aurora in the ocean

Lin Yanting, an engineer from Pingtan Meteorological Bureau said the "Sea Sparkles" that appeared that night were classified as grades 4-5. The 5th grade presents the spectacle featuring the highest illuminance and longest duration.  

Photo by Lin Xifeng

According to reports, the phenomenon arises from plankton giving off fluorescence when stimulated. Every April to June is the peak period of "Sea Sparkles" in Pingtan, attracting a flow of tourists.

Photo by Huang Shujie

Nowadays, "Sea Sparkles" have become one of the most iconic ecological landscapes in some coastal cities, especially Pingtan, a rising international tourism island. They had been under the radar due to the lack of systematic exploration. Over time, its mysterious veil is gradually being lifted. 

Photo by Chen Yingnan

Their popularity stems from an accidental encounter. In August 2013, a local cycling team came across the “Sea Sparkles” when they were cycling into Pingtan’s Tannan Bay. They posted this wonder on social platforms that went viral instantly. Since then, Pingtan’s “Sea Sparkles” came into the public and gradually became a new stimulus for local tourism. 

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