Lugu Lake, Lijiang, Yunnan, China | Lugu Lake Mosuo Love Song Journey | Departure from Lijiang

Lugu Lake is nestled in the mountains between Ninglang County in Yunnan Province and Yanyuan County in Sichuan Province, 69 kilometers from Ninglang County. The lake covers an area of ​​52 square kilometers, with an average depth of 45 meters and a maximum depth of 93 meters. The water is crystal clear, with a maximum visibility of 12 meters. The lake flows eastward into the Yalong River and the Jinsha River, belonging to the Yangtze River system. The lake is shaped like a horseshoe, long from north to south and narrow from east to west, resembling a gourd with a curved neck, hence its name, Lugu Lake. The Mosuo people, who live on the shores of Lugu Lake, still retain the "A-Xia" walking marriage custom, where men do not marry and women do not wed. After reaching adulthood, the man visits the woman's home at night. They address each other as "A-Xia," meaning "intimate partner." In Mosuo homes, the woman is the head of the household and worships a goddess. The Mosuo's matriarchal family tradition is a rare "daughter kingdom" in the world today, and they are also known as a "living fossil of matriarchal society."

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The Lugu Lake viewing platform is the best spot to enjoy a panoramic view of Lugu Lake. From here, you can clearly see the beautiful curves of Lugu Lake, the verdant islands scattered on the mirror-like blue surface of the lake, and the majestic Gemu Goddess Mountain standing gracefully on the north shore.

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The Gemu Goddess Mountain Cableway Project includes a tour package encompassing an elevator, cableway, mountain trails, Monkey King Park, Lugu Lake panoramic viewing platform, Goddess Cave, and a toboggan run. The 1500-meter-long cableway is the only access to Gemu Goddess Mountain, the sacred mountain of the Mosuo people, and also the only cableway in the entire Lugu Lake area. The Lugu Lake panoramic viewing platform offers the best vantage point in the entire Lugu Lake scenic area, providing panoramic views and showcasing the most quintessential beauty of the lake. Goddess Cave, imbued with the religious beliefs of the Mosuo people, is their most revered sacred cave.

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The Walking Marriage Bridge is located in the Caohai area of ​​the southeastern waters of Lugu Lake and is the only bridge on the lake. Due to the accumulation of silt over the years, the water under the bridge has become shallow and is covered with dense reeds, making it look like a sea of ​​grass from a distance, hence the local name "Caohai" (Grass Sea).

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Lige Island, located at the foot of Lion Mountain, is a beautiful causeway-connected island in the bay on the northern edge of Lugu Lake. Surrounded by water on three sides, it is connected to the causeway by a pebbled path, creating a very tranquil environment. More than ten Mosuo families live on the island in ancient log cabins built along its shore. The doors and windows of the houses face the water, allowing for fishing right from the windows – a truly idyllic scene.

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