A system for controlling operation of a ceiling fan is provided. The ceiling fan includes a fan device and a light device, and can be operated via a user operation module that is to be operated by direct operation, or a wireless receiver module that receives a wireless control signal. Within a predetermined control duration from the time of activation, the ceiling fan can, upon receipt of an operation signal from the user operation module or a wireless control signal from the wireless receiver module, switch to operate in a mode where the ceiling fan is controlled via one of the user operation module and the wireless receiver module that corresponds to the signal received thereby.