Lake Luguhu

» Lijiang, Yun Nan

Lake Luguhu Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Lake Luguhu is located between Yunnan's Ninglang County and Sichuan's Yanyuan County and lies 200 kilometers (approximately 124 miles) in the northeast of Lijiang City. It is 2,685 meters (8,809.06 feet) above sea level, counting from the surface of the water and is therefore the lake with the highest altitude in the province. The lake surface is 52 square kilometers. The water of the lake is generally clean and green, with different shades of colour: now turquoise blue, now sapphire blue, now white-gray, simply beyond one's imagination.

A Dreamy Lights

Luguhu Lake is surrounded by high and sublime mountains and is snowbound for over 3 months. Since thc lake is rather deep, a definite regulating influence is exerted on the temperature of the lake shores. Therefore the surrounding mountains abound in forest resources which afford an exquisite beauty, much fresh air and charming scenery. At present it is one of the places in China which is least damaged by human efforts and best preserved in its natural features.

A legend behind the lake luguhu

"Lugu" means "falling into the water" in the Mosuo language. There is a legend behind the lake. Long ago, there was no lake. An orphan herded cattle in mountains every day. A greed villager found that the orphan ate the meat of big fish that made a quick recovery. He desired to posses the magic fish and employed several young men to pull out it from a cave. Suddenly, the food spewed and submerged the whole village. Only a woman put her two children into a manger for raising pigs. Finally her children escaped the catastrophe, but their mother died. After this, the Lake Luguhu appeared and was named "Mother Lake" in honor of the brave mother.

What to see

The lake takes the shape of a horse's hoof - long from north to south and narrower from east to west. The lake water is limpid with different shades of color: now turquoise blue, now sapphire blue, now jade green, now orange with sunglow, simply beyond one's imagination. On the lake are the "pig-trough boats" (zhucaochuan) specific to the place. The lake waters flow eastward to the Yalong River and finally into the surging Gold Sand River (Jingshajiang) River.

Five islands in lake luguhu

Lake Luguhu is scattered with five islands of different sizes, like green boats floating on the water. Heiwawu Island, Liwubi Island and Lige Island are most notable. Heiwawu Island is in the center and with a variety of birds living on. The smallest island on the lake is Nixi Island - an oblong rock covered with shrubs and moss.

Mountain

Lugu Lake is surrounded by high and sublime mountains and is snowbound for over 3 months. Since the lake is rather deep, a definite regulating influence is exerted on the temperature of the lake shores. Therefore the surrounding mountains abound in forest resources which afford an exquisite beauty, much fresh air and charming scenery.

Shizi Mountain

Near the lake is Shizi Mountain, about 3800 meters, is a Mountain Goddess, dominating the agriculture, population and love affairs there. Around mountains Goddess are mountains of men and they are all the lovers of the goddess. The high and sublime mountains add beauty to the lake.

Mosuo friends in Lake Luguhu

Around Lake Luguhu lives an ancient nationality - the Mosuo nationality, a branch of the Naxi nationality. Up to now, the Mosuo people retain the vestiges of matriarchal society and follow the tradition of "walking marriage."

Lake Luguhu has been regarded as "the Oriental Female Kingdom" composed of the Mosuo people. Husbands and wives do not have a joint home. They live with their mothers during in daytime and with their partners date at nights. The women are responsible for raising their children and generally play the most important role. Only women can inherit the property. Men stay at home looking after the children.

Mosuo people --"The Female's Kingdom"

The male and female youth of the Mosuo people, having fostered mutual love in the long period of productive labour and social activities, begin to reciprocate "tokens". The male party, in accordance with his economic conditions, presents the female party with gold or silver ornaments, jade bracelets, beads and silk threads, etc. The "tokens" returned by the female party are generally some personal accessories which the other party likes. Given such an affection on both sides, the seniors of the male party would bring some "loquat meat", and some tea, sugar or wine to pay a visit to those of the female party.

Once agreement is obtained from them, an axia (spouse) relationship is established for the two. However, such relationship can also be fixed without going through the above procedure. After this the two parties continue to live in their own homes. The male "axia" labours for his home in the daytime, and goes to the female "axia" at night for cohabiting with her in her home. The family of the female "axia" looks upon the male as one of its own members.

During the rush farming season, the male "axia" goes to the home of the other party to help with work. Those who have fixed their "axia" relationship call each other "azhu", which means "dear companion", but never husband or wife. Therefore, it is not appropriate to speak of "father", who instead is only referred to as "maternal uncle". The female is predominant and is therefore the leader of a family.

With the Mosuos goddess worship and the remnants of the matriarchal period, the Luguhu Lake area is indeed one of the rare specimens of "The Female's Kingdom" in the world and a 'living fossil of the matriarchal society hard to come by".

Try Local food

Local food features fat salted pork and dry fish.

Attractions around » Lijiang, Yun Nan

Natural Scene

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Lake Luguhu
• Yak Meadow
• The First Bend of the Yangtze
• Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Dongba Valley
• Yuquan Park

Historical Site

• Lijiang Old Town
• Shuhe Naxi Village
• Mural in Baisha Village
• Former Residence of Rock
• Yufeng Lamastery
• Stone Drum Town
• Mu Family Mansion

Cultural Site

• Former Residence of Rock
• Dongba Museum
• Yuquan Park

Nightlife

• Impression Lijiang

Shopping & Leisure

• Square Street

Lake Luguhu Highlights

Ancient Tea Horse Road attraction highlights

• Lijiang Old Town
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Shangri-la
• Lake Luguhu
• Yak Meadow
• Butterfly Spring
• Dali Ancient City
• Yufeng Lamastery
• Dongba Valley

city highlights

• Lhasa
• Shangri-la
• Lijiang
• Dali
• Gyangtze
• Tsetang

Lake & Spring in Great China

• West Lake
• Lake Kanas
• Lake Namtso
• Lake Qinghaihu
• Lake Yamdrok
• Huaqing Pool
• Crescent Spring
• Lake Qiandaohu
• Lake Xuanwuhu
• Lake Taihu
• Slender West Lake
• Lake Hongfenghu
• Lake Dianchi
• Lake Luguhu
• Heavenly Lake
• Butterfly Spring
• Lake Erhai
• Longsheng Hot Spring National Park
• Lake Bitahai
• Lake Shuduhu
• Lake Napahai
• Red Carp Pond
• Hupao Spring
• Black Dragon Pool
• Lake Karakuli
• Tianhe Pool
• Lake Dongtinghu
• Baotu Spring
• Lake Daminghu
• Yuquan Park
• Lake Bosten
• East Lake Scenic Area

Lake Luguhu FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. Does it rain a lot in Lijiang?
2. When is the best time to go there?

  Shopping

1. Do bargain

  Travel

1. Cable car cautions

  Other Hints

1. Beware of the religious hooligans
2. Is it easy for me to make telephone calls there?
3. Toilet Facilities
4. Altitude sickness
5. Avoid busy holidays
6. OMG! I'm lost! What should I do?
7. Useful Phone Numbers
8. Emergency Numbers

• Does it rain a lot in Lijiang?

  It rains a lot in July and August. That's important to know because heavy rains can trigger rock and mud slides, which can block roads. This can cause long travel delays or even cancelled plans (such as your trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge).

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• When is the best time to go there?

  April and October is two ideal months suitable to visit Lijiang. The temperature is pleasant and it doesn't rain as often.

  January and February are not superlative months either because of wintry temperatures.

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• Toilet Facilities

  A number of toilets with good facilities and service have been built in the Old Town. The charge is usually no more than CNY 0.5 per person.

• Do bargain

  Souvenir prices tend to rise the closer you get to Sifang Square. And remember, always negotiate. You should be able to lower the initial price by 30%, sometimes more.

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• Cable car cautions

  Wear warm clothes. It's freezing where you'll be going (a lookout near the summit of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain). Winter parkas can be rented before you board the cable car gondolas. The same is true for oxygen bottles, for those who may need one.

  To avoid long, time-consuming lines waiting to board the gondolas, go early or late in the day. But before leaving Lijiang for the ride, find out if the high-elevation viewing platforms are expected to be shrouded in clouds when you'll be there. If so, you won't see much, including the stunning panoramic views of the mountains and valleys.

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• Beware of the religious hooligans

  Watch out the religious hooligans when you visit the Black Dragon Pool Park in Lijiang. It will be nighmare if you do. Specifically there was a so-called Dongba Culture Institution, you are right, the lexicon should think about giving a amendment to this word if they insist calling themselves an 'institution'.

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• Is it easy for me to make telephone calls there?

  A number of public IC card telephones have been installed in the Old Town, and some stores in the Old Town provide public telephones with which visitors can make direct domestic and international calls. Mobile phones can also be used freely within the area of the Old Town.

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• Toilet Facilities

  A number of toilets with good facilities and service have been built in the Old Town. The charge is usually no more than CNY 0.5 per person.

• Altitude sickness

  Before your respiratory and circulatory systems adjust to a high elevation, your body suffers to some degree from oxygen deprivation. That's altitude sickness. Symptoms include dizziness, tiredness and headaches - and difficulty in catching your breath when, for example, walking up steps.

  The best defense is not to go suddenly from one altitude to a much higher one. Do your upward journeys in stages so your lungs can more readily adapt to thinner air.

  We recommend that you do not travel from a low-altitude city (such as Beijing or Xian) to Lijiang on the same day. Instead, spend at least one full day in Kunming to acclimate your body to its relatively thin air (spend the time visiting the nearby Stone Forest, a Hillman Wonders Bronze Medal winner). This will help prepare your body for the even thinner air in Lijiang. Stay there for at least a day or two before heading to Zhongdian or Deqin, where the air is even more rarified

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• Avoid busy holidays

  During some holidays, hot destinations are packed with tourists, bringing you inconvenience or even unpleasantness, and also unless you have firm hotel reservations, skip these ultra-popular Chinese holiday periods (or you may end up without a room):

  • Spring Festival (Lunar New Year celebration). Its start date varies from year to year, anywhere from mid-January to mid-February.
  • May Day - Occurs during the first two weeks in May.
  • National Day - Takes place in the first two weeks in October.

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• OMG! I'm lost! What should I do?

  Well, calm down first. It's easy to get lost in Lijiang Ancient Town because of its labyrinth of meandering passageways. But that's part of the enjoyment because you will discover picturesque alleys that you would not have seen otherwise.

  Before you leave your hotel, do write down the name of the hotel in both English and Chinese. Taxis can be easily found in the city so you can just grab a taxi and show your address. If you are at a far place where you cannot find a taxi, please call 110 and ask the police for help.

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• Useful Phone Numbers

  • Tourist Complaint: 5123432
    
  • Lijiang Airport Inquiry Telephone: 5173081
    
  • Scheduled Flights and Ticket Inquiries: 5161289 5161291 5173079
    
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• Emergency Numbers

  • Fire: 119
    
  • Ambulance: 120
    
  • Police: 110
    
  • Traffic: 122
    
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