Lugu Lake
Name in Chinese: 泸沽湖 Lú Gū Hú [lu gu hu]
Duration of Tour: One and a Half Days
Location: Yanyuan County, Liangshan Yi Group Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province
Highlights: Photography and Authentic Minorities’ Folk Customs
Must-see Sightseeing Spots: the Princess Isle, the Reed Bay, the Walking-marriage Bridge, Lige Isle, Moso’s Folk Custom Museum and Villages
Reputations: A National Four-star Scenic Area, One of China’s Top 10 Tourist Resort
Lugu Lake lies on the border between Sichuan Province and Yunnan Province. The lake covers an area of 50 square kilometers(19 sq.mi). It is the third deepest inland lake in China. Lugu lake is 105 meters(344 feet) in depth at its deepest part. Its average depth is 40 meters(131 feet). The lake is vast and gorgeous. Many photographers are proud of their photos shot at the lake. Lugu is a Moso word, which means a lake surrounded by mountains. It indicates that the lake is embraced by mountains. The altitude of the lake is 2,685 meters(8,809 feet) above sea level. The highest mountain nearby the lake shore is Gemu Mountain of which the summit is 3,754.7 meters(12,319 feet) above sea level. People who live by the lake are some minorities, such as Yi Nationality, Mongolians and Moso Group. Moso Group is unique in the world for its marriage custom which is known as the walking marriage. Lugu Lake Scenic Area consists of bays, islands, Moso villages, temples and a folk custom museum.
The Princess Isle
The Princess Isle is surrounded by water. It is a very small island that is only half a hectare(1.2 acres) in area. A house is situated on the top of the island. It used to be the residence of the last princess of Moso Group. Xiao Shuming was born in Chengdu in 1927. Her father was an officer who served General Liu Wenhui. Liu Wenhui was one of the warlords in Sichuan. The chieftain of Moso Group once visited General Liu Wenhui and came across the beautiful girl, Xiao Shuming. He fell in love with the girl. When the girl was only 16, the chieftain married her. Even though the girl was forced to marry him, she still did what a good wife should do. As the last princess of Moso Group, she earned the respect of her people. Xiao Shuming passed away in 2008.
The Walking-marriage Bridge
The Walking-marriage Bridge lies at the Reed Bay. It is a 300-meter wooden bridge. Moso Group is unique in the modern world for its special marriage custom which is called the Walking Marriage by local people. The husband and the wife do not live together. The children are raised by the mother and her brothers. Undoubtedly, the child knows who his father is, and the marriage partners are faithful to each other. Moso Group is the only one unidentified nationality in China. Some scholars classify the group as a branch of Naxi Nationality. But their language is different from that of Naxi people. Moso people speak a kind of language without scripts or writing system. The total population of Moso Group is about 50,000. According to the historical records, the ancestors of Moso people migrated from the northern Sichuan to the Lugu Lake area by the end of the Warring States Period(475-221B.C.). Their own tradition and folk custom have been well preserved for centuries.
Gemu Mountain
Gemu mountain is also called Gemu Fairy Maiden Mountain. It is the highest mountain overlooking the lake. The summit of the mountain is 3,754.7 meters(12,319 feet) above sea level. The world famous American scholar Joseph Rock arrived at Lugu Lake in 1922. One of his works is the Ancient Na-khi Kingdom of South-West China,1947. In the book, he depicts the mountain as one of the most gorgeous mountains in the southwestern China, which looks like a lion sleeping by the lake.
Travel Tips
How to Get to Lugu Lake
Lugu Lake is located on the border between Sichuan Province and Yunnan Province. It is 270 km(168 miles) away from Xichang, 215 km(134 miles) away from Lijiang. Visitors can fly to Xichang or Lijiang from Chengdu, then take a car to the scenic area. They usually ride a car or train from Chengdu to Xichang, pay a visit to Qionghai Lake, then travel to Lugu Lake.
Photography Tips
A tripod, a filter, telephoto lenses and wide angle lenses are needed. The most ideal place for taking photos are the Princess Isle and the Walking-marriage Bridge. The best season to visit Lugu Lake is in the late autumn.
Weather
The temperature in Lugu Lake Scenic Area ranges from 2℃(35.6°F) to 16℃(60.8°F) in spring, 12℃(53.6°F) to 23℃(73.4°F) in summer, 14℃(57.2°F) to 23℃(73.4°F) in autumn and minus 4℃(39.2°F) to 17℃(62.6°F) in winter. Lugu Lake attracts a large number of visitors with its picturesque landscape and pleasant climate all year around.
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Author: Tina Luo
Update:
