In Taiwan’s metropolises, the night sky is often lost in the glare of the city lights. That has prompted tour operators in Hualien County to offer a very special kind of expedition.
Silvery moonlight glimmers across the sea’s vast expanse. And one class of Hualien schoolchildren is on hand to give an impromptu ukulele concert. The county’s whale-watching operators have begun offering stargazing tours off Hualien’s coast, where there’s not much light pollution. That comes ahead of May’s lunar eclipse.
Local government tourism planning boss Huang Hsu-kuan explains. She says the new tours will give people the chance to admire the so-called “blood moon” on May 26.
And on June 6, there will be a special guided stargazing tour with astronomy experts on board. Local whale tour operator Lu Shih-ming says people enjoy the night sky but don’t realize that different constellations relate to different aspects of our lives.
The local government is working with businesses to create a variety of activities themed around stargazing. These include concerts and night photography classes. Authorities hope they show people a little bit of moonlight magic.