Hotel (2 nights): Y80 x 2 (Single)
Food: 119
Entrance fee: Y100
Bus: Lugu Lake>Xichang Y95
Day tour : Y50
Taxi: Y30
From Lijiang, the bus journey to Lugu lake takes about 6-7 hrs. From the Yunnan side, the front gate entrance fee is Y100 per person but I understand those entering via Sichuan pay only Y80. Upon payment, each of us was issued a "Women's Kingdom" passport signed by the Lijiang Lugu Lake provincial tourism authority ! So here I am going back into a time tunnel visiting a far away land, a lost country called the "Women's Kingdom"
This horse shoe shaped Lugu lake located at the border of Si Chuan / Yunnan provinces (2,690m) has 5 islands, 14 bays & 17 beaches. Most tourists prefer to stay either in Luoshui or Lige village. Most of the inhabitants here belong to the minority ethnic Mosuo people. The Mosuo people have their own peculiar and amazing customs & culture. The following are the "10 oddities of Mosuo" as described in the passport ( translated literally words by words from the Chinese text ) so enjoy reading :
1) Mosuo family has wooden house & Huotang, a special stove of Qiang nationality is passed from one generation to another
2) Going out and coming back is through the same path and the existing door is often not open
3) Uncle (mother's brother) takes control of etiquette and mother takes control of property and the supreme leader is the grandmother
4) People at the age of 13 will be considered as adult and will dress embroidered with a red ribbon
5) 2 persons will stroke the palms when they are falling in love, and express their affection with their eyes
6) The lover climbs on to the Hualou and the women will turn round the felt cap
7) He is in love all his life and will go back home before daybreak
8) Gemu is worshipped as a goddess and she will change the mountain and the sea
9) There are open springs everywhere and men and women take dips together
1) Mosuo family has wooden house & Huotang, a special stove of Qiang nationality is passed from one generation to another
2) Going out and coming back is through the same path and the existing door is often not open
3) Uncle (mother's brother) takes control of etiquette and mother takes control of property and the supreme leader is the grandmother
4) People at the age of 13 will be considered as adult and will dress embroidered with a red ribbon
5) 2 persons will stroke the palms when they are falling in love, and express their affection with their eyes
6) The lover climbs on to the Hualou and the women will turn round the felt cap
7) He is in love all his life and will go back home before daybreak
8) Gemu is worshipped as a goddess and she will change the mountain and the sea
9) There are open springs everywhere and men and women take dips together
10) The boats called Zhucao float home and abroad, the story of walking marriage is well known in the world
I paid Y50 for a round the island day tour from Luoshui village and we had 5 tourists who signed up for this trip. The day tour (6hrs) took us to many of the popular tourists places eg Lige village, Walking marriage bridge, Caohai wetland, boat ride, the water hole & a panoramic view of the Lake etc
In Lige village, each of us paid Y10 for a short boat ride around the Lake. The scenery around the Lugu lake from all angles was really charming & spectacular !
As it was a low season in Lugu lake and without any advance booking, I paid Y80 for a single room. The room tariff for hotels in most places here is between Y200-Y300 for a twin bed room.
After a 2 night stay in Lugu lake, I took a taxi in Luoshui at around 06.00 to Ningliang town (2hrs) and boarded a bus to Xichang, Si Chuan. A very satisfying trip indeed after seeing the beauty of the Lugu Lake and this mysterious place once upon a time called the "Women's Kingdom"
1) Luoshui (Big Water Village)
I paid Y50 for a round the island day tour from Luoshui village and we had 5 tourists who signed up for this trip. The day tour (6hrs) took us to many of the popular tourists places eg Lige village, Walking marriage bridge, Caohai wetland, boat ride, the water hole & a panoramic view of the Lake etc
In Lige village, each of us paid Y10 for a short boat ride around the Lake. The scenery around the Lugu lake from all angles was really charming & spectacular !
As it was a low season in Lugu lake and without any advance booking, I paid Y80 for a single room. The room tariff for hotels in most places here is between Y200-Y300 for a twin bed room.
After a 2 night stay in Lugu lake, I took a taxi in Luoshui at around 06.00 to Ningliang town (2hrs) and boarded a bus to Xichang, Si Chuan. A very satisfying trip indeed after seeing the beauty of the Lugu Lake and this mysterious place once upon a time called the "Women's Kingdom"
1) Luoshui (Big Water Village)
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| Lugu Lake landmark in Xia Luosui |
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| Xia Lousui is a Mousuo village in Lugu lake |
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| Boats parked by the lake side for hire |
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| Scenic Lugu Lake side |
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| Flowers fully blossomed in Lugu Lake side |
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| Lugu Lake & the grass sea |
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| Grass sea & the blue Lugu Lake |
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| A patch of grass sea |
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| Beauty ! Beauty ! |
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| Everything looked beautiful here ! |
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| Picture says a thousand words |
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| Lugu Lake landmark, standing tall |
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| A row of hotels in Luosui |
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| Traditional wooden houses in Luosui |
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| The hotel I stayed in Luosui, Lugu lake |
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| Husi Tea House Youth Hostel in Luosui, Lugu Lake |
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| Waiting place for taxis in Luosui |
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| Evening walk by the lake side |
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| Locals offering prayers at this kiln |
Lige Island, Lugu Lake
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| The calm and peaceful Lugu Lake |
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| Just keep taking pictures |
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| Battery operated wooden boats for hire |
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| Y10 for a short boat ride in Lige |
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| Lugu Lake in Lige |
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| Beautiful background |
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| The dock for boat rides to nearby islands |
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| Holiday resort homes in Lige |
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| Tourists like to flock to Lige |
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| A walking path by the lake side |
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| View from the top |
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| A panoramic view of Lugu Lake in Lige |
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| One of the small islands in Lige |
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| A viewing platform for tourists |
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| A stupa in Lige |
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| Just follow the crowd - heading uphill |
The famous lover's trees in Lugu Lake
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| Lover's trees for all to admire |
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| These two trees are so loving to look at |
The water hole of Lugu Lake
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| The original source of the Lugu Lake |
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| Nice view from the top |
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| Nature at ner very best |
Zouhun Bridge (Walking Marriage Bridge) - the wooden passage way through which the Mosuo people walk to their lover's house. After spending the night together, the man has to walk back to his house in the morning. You do not see a husband or a wife's role here so no marriage in Mosuo culture ! Children here are raised by their mother or mother's families.
Imagine if you are an overseas female guest staying for a night at a Mosuo's home in Lugu Lake. And one starry night, one local Mosuo male climb from the window and enter into your room - do you yell or let it be ! Not sure a pepper spray comes in handy at this critical moment of your life !
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| "The world's 1st magpie bridge under the heaven" |
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| The start of the road to the wooden bridge |
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| The wooden walking marriage bridge - 300m long |
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| Local ladies dressed in traditional costume |
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| Grass sea |
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| The end of the passage way |
Caohai dock centre for boat rides
A local village by a lake side
Our group's buffet lunch (Y30) near the Walking Marriage bridge
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| Y30 for a buffet lunch near the walking marriage bridge |
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| Fish, chicken, vege, pancake, rice - Good enough |
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