Top Attractions in Lugu Lake Tourist Area

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Located on the border between Ninglang County in Yunnan Province and Yanyuan County in Sichuan Province, about 230km north of Lijiang and about 700km south of Chengdu, Lugu Lake is famous for its peculiar natural scenery, unique and mysterious culture of the Mosuo people, and matriarchal system and walking marriage custom.

Lige Island of Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake Tourist Areas

Since its location is divided into two parts, the tourist area also has two parts: Sichuan Lugu Lake and Yunnan Lugu Lake. At present, it is very convenient to visit the Lugu Lake Tourist Areas both from Chengdu or Lijiang. Tourists can choose to go there by regular long-distance bus, renting a car, flight and car, train and car.

Around Lugu Lake are mainly living the Mosuo people who are called Mongol in Sichuan and Naxi in Yunnan, but they have the same traditions, customs, cultures, and religions. Please read more details about the Mosuo people and their daily life.

The average elevation of Lugu Lake is about 2690m and its area is about 48.45 square kilometers. Its shape looks like a horse's hoof and is long from north to south and narrow from east to west. The color of the lake changes constantly throughout a day. The morning mist mixed with the sunshine of the sunrise gives the lake an orange glow and the lake is meanwhile covered by white mist. When the sunshine causes the mountains to throw their shadows onto the surface of the lake, the water has the jade-green color. When the sun goes down, the lake is calm and the water becomes dark green. When the night comes, it is more peaceful, and gentle wind blows and the water ripples.

The Mosuo Women

Attractions around the Lake

1. Walking Marriage Bridge

Located in the Caohai area at the southeast water area of Lugu Lake, Walking Marriage Bridge is the only bridge with a history of 100 years. Its overall length is more than 300 meters. The whole bridge is made of the wood. Both sides have wooden handrail. Its surface is about 80 centimeter to the water. In the water is full of sludge, leading the water to be shallow. But there lives dense reed.

The bridge is one of dating places for the Mosuo male and female. In the daytime, they express their interest to each other, through dancing and singing. At night, the female invites the male to her Huafang for private date. Walking Marriage Bridge plays an important role in the custom of walking marriage of the Mosuo people.

Nearby attractions: Caohai, Lama Temple, Mosuo Tusifu, Modai Wanfeifu

The Walking Bridge at Caohai

2. Caohai

Caohai, also called Grass Sea, is located at the southeast of Lugu Lake in Sichuan Province. Due to the dense reed which looks like a sea of grass from the long distance, it is named as Caohai. The area covers about 10 square kilometers. When winter comes, here will be the nesting habitats for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds. In the water, fish and shrimp are very much. According to the old words, the locals survived by catching fish and shrimp and pick up wild duck eggs from the famine year at the end of fifties and the beginning of sixties. The Walking Marriage Bridge stretches across the Caohai to the opposite bank.

Nearby attractions: Walking Marriage Bridge, Lama Temple, Mosuo Tusifu, Modai Wanfeifu

3. Lama Temple

All Mosuo people practice religions. One is Lama Temple is their own religion called Daba; and the other is Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Temple, also Blace Lame Temple is the only temple of Benbo religion sect in Lugu Lake.

Every early July and middle winter month of lunar calendar, Black Lama Temple holds grand religious rituals. Among them, the ritual which is hold to sacrifice the sun and to shine Buddhas is the most ceremonious. At that days, all the religions will get together to worship gods, to touch devoutly the statues of Buddha, to take a bath with divine water and to appreciate the mysterious "Ge'r" and "Ba'e" Lama dance.

Lama Temple at Lugu Lake Tourist Area

4. Goddess Gulf

Goddess Gulf is hugged by Houlong Mountain and is one of the most beautiful gulfs in Lugu Lake tourist areas.

A Mosuo folk legend tells that there is a couple named Gemu and Houlong. They were the lovers of "walking marriage". However, the love story was jealous, and one day they were separated from each other and turned into two mountains: Holy Gemu Mountains and Holy Houlong Mountains today. The affectionate Gemu couldn't forget her lover yet. So she made her yearning into flowing water to touch and stroke Houlong's scar gently. Goddess Gulf tell all the lovers in the world her touching story year by year.

The Clean Water of Goddess Gulf

5. Lover's Branch & Lover's Trees

After being separated, Gemu and Houlong had one chance to date on the 15th day of July in lunar calendar. The dating place is at the Lover's Branch where they spoke their love story. And two admirable trees grow up there and they intertwine with each other. Later generations called them the Lover's Trees. It is said that if you come to the Lover's Branch and sit under the Lover's Trees, you may hear the words of lover between Gemu and Houlong.

Lugu Lake

6. Holy Gemu Mountain

Holy Gemu Mountain is the highest mountain in Lugu Lake tourist areas. Its altitude is 3754.7 meter. Standing at the perfect point, you can view the panorama of Lugu Lake. It is said that the mountain is the embodiment of Gemu Goddess. On the 25th day in July of the lunar calendar, the grand Walking around Mountan Festival is hosted here. At that day, the Mosuo people will wear festival costumes and go to the Mountain for worshiping. Some people will walk around the Mountain three circles, and meanwhile scatter five cereals and offer respectfully tributes to the the Goddess.

7. Lige Peninsula

Lige Peninsula situated at the north of Lugu Lake. Its three sides is surrounded by water. The peninsula is linked to the Lige Village by a 2-meter-wide road. On the Peninsula, there are local ancient folk dwellings with several hundred history and hotels with comfortable Lake View rooms. In the early morning, tourists can enjoy the beautiful mist on the Lake from the room. Lige Peninsula is one of the best place for your lodging.

The Snow Scenery of Lige Peninsula in Winter

8. Villages

Scattered around the Lugu Lake, there are 14 Mosuo villages. They are Sanjia Village, Daluoshui Village, Lige Village, Nisai Village, Xiaoluoshui Village, Dazu Village, Mukua Village, Aokua Village, Zhongwa Village, Luowa Village, Wuzhiluo Village, Aliu Village, Muzhi Village, Boshu Village.

9. Islands

In the Lugu Lake, there are 5 popular islands. They can reached through boating from the wharfs on the back. They are Wanfei Island (Bowa Island), Liwubi Island, Heiwae Island (Huxin Island), Dazui Island, Lise Island.