Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake (泸沽湖 Lúgū Hú) is on the Yunnan/Sichuan border in China. It is pronounced loo goo hoo in Chinese.

Understand


A nice lake between Yunnan and Sichuan to relax one or two days. The area is protected from extensive development.

It is 2690 m above sea level at the borders between Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces. It covers an area of 50 km² with the average water depth of 45 m and the transparency 11 m. In the lake there are five islands, three peninsulas and a sea-wall islet. Here everything looks as if it has not been disturbed by human beings at all and still remains in its primitive state. Boating in the lake, you can feel that the surface of the water is as smooth as a mirror and the water as blue as the sky. The slow – canoe in the blue lake, the beautiful Mosuo girls in their ethnic clothes and the Mosuo folk songs will show you something of primitive simplicity and peace. Lugu Lake has the fame of a fabled abode of immortals and “Plateau Pearl" for its pure and virgin land of natural landscapes.

The Mosuo people living here keep their matriarchal society system. The "Axia visiting marriage" system (actually no marriage system at all) is called the fossil for the study of the development of the human being society. The members of the big matriarchal families live in harmony, love dearly and care for one another. The Axia couples live in their own mothers' houses without a real family life are less burdened economically. They free themselves from such worries as daily housework, quarrels and the obligation of a husband-and-wife relationship. Here, a colorful ethnic custom painting, is an ideal place for travelling, holidays, recuperation and scientific research. Welcome to the beautiful, mysterious and romantic "Oriental Women-governed kingdom."

Get in
Mini vans or fleet buses from Lijiang, Yunnan or Xichang, south Sichuan. The road from Lijiang was, apart from some very short pieces, completely paved at the end of 2017, which has reduced travel time by minibus from Lijiang to some 4-5 hours, where it used to be a grueling 8 hour trip over mostly unpaved mountain road. After the 4-5 hour trip, you will be surrounded by mountains and water.

Fees and permits
&yen;100 per head when entering the lake area. Students pay half price (most likely any English photo-ID will work).

There is only one bank/ATM around the lake and it's a small rural bank, so your MasterCard/Visa international ATM card won't work. Will only work with Chinese Unionpay cards. If you don't have money in a Chinese bank account, then make sure you bring enough cash to cover the number of days you are going to stay here.

Get around
You can start out by walking around, but you won't get very far before you get tired. You can rent bicycles to go around the lake, it would take you 8 hours. You can rent electric and motor scooters to loop around the lake in about 3 hours.

Buy
Local artcraft

Eat
Chinese, Tibetan, and Western food are available in many different places.

Sleep
Many places all around the lake. The main town on the Yunnan side is Luoshui, which is beautifully located on the lake's shore. In high season it can get crowded, but in low season it's serene and highly enjoyable. Some foreigners prefer to stay in Lige, which is a small village on the north side of the lake with a great view on the lake.

In Luoshui there are plenty of wonderful hotels in the ¥40-70 price range: expect a clean double room with an attached bathroom, hot water, electric blanket, wi-fi and a balcony or view to the lake. There is an expensive official youth hostel, but it's cheaper and better to ask around in other hotels for a room. Bargaining is the norm in low season, but notice that a small deposit is usually required.



Camping
Not authorized in the lake area, but you can.

Stay safe
Around the lake you can find local Mosuo children selling local items and the local adults selling food. Be incredibly wary of them - the children, while dirty and ragged looking, have been known to pickpocket. The adults selling food can also be incredibly pushy and aggressive.

Go next
To Lijiang, 230 km, 4-5 hours by bus or van. To get to lijiang, the same route that you came here. Except in the opposite direction. ¥100 per person. The vans and buses leave around 09:00. If you are driving, do not attempt to leave at night! There is road construction and the road is only open during certain hours. They won't let you through and you would have to turn back!

You can catch the bus from Lige or Luoshui, the boat to Luoshui is &yen;80 from Luowa Pier (where the Wetlands meet the Lake), to Lige a minivan is &yen;120/van or a 7-hour, 25-km hike.