Tourists take photos with the "blue tears."

Pingtan Island, a popular coastal destination in Fujian Province facing the Taiwan Straits, enters its peak season for bioluminescent "blue tears" from March to June each year. This mesmerizing natural phenomenon has become a major driver of local tourism, fueled by a growing community of online content creators who track, livestream, and share the glowing spectacle with audiences worldwide.

Waves carry the glowing "blue tears" right to visitors.

Gao Hansheng, a former homestay operator, began posting videos and livestreams of blue tears three years ago to help guests find the best viewing spots. He has since built a 10-member team with more than 80,000 followers. "We turn online traffic into real visits and longer stays," Gao said. His team offers guided trips, travel planning, and photography support, encouraging visitors to extend their trips beyond a single night.

Tourists chase the "blue tears."

One visitor, Chen Liang from Hangzhou, changed his travel plans after watching Gao's livestream and spent two nights chasing the phenomenon. "The first night we only saw faint flickers, but on the second night the entire bay lit up like a blue starry sky. It felt like a journey of discovery," he recalled. Photographer Mu Mu, who also joined Gao's team, focuses on capturing visitors' special moments, including marriage proposals on the glowing shoreline. "Documenting these happy moments is even more rewarding than shooting wedding photos," Mu Mu said.

Visitors pose with the "blue tears."

Another influencer, Xiao Man from Guangdong, presents blue tears through a more poetic lens. Combining cinematic visuals, emotional storytelling, and soft background music, she describes the phenomenon as "a love letter written by the sea." With more than 100,000 followers, she promotes Pingtan as a romantic and tranquil destination that offers more than just its famous blue glow.

"I don't just tell people where to find blue tears—I want them to truly feel the beauty of Pingtan," Xiao Man said. Her content resonates particularly with female travelers and those seeking meaningful experiences. Some visitors come for wedding photoshoots, others to heal after heartbreak, or to bring their children to witness what they call the "sea's sapphires."

"Blue sprites" shimmer in the palms of hands.

As night falls, the blue glow intensifies along Pingtan's coastline. Local creators continue to guide visitors, capture moments, and share the experience online, transforming a fleeting natural phenomenon into a lasting source of warmth and vitality for the island's tourism.