Dreamy Lugu Lake: Exploring the Charm of the Oriental Daughter Country

First Impression of Lugu Lake

Located at the border of Yanyuan County in Sichuan Province and Ninglang County in Yunnan Province, China, Lugu Lake is a shared lake between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Its geographical coordinates are 100 ° 45 ′ -100 ° 51 ′ E longitude and 27 ° 41 ′ -27 ° 45 ′ N latitude. The lake surface is horseshoe shaped, with an altitude of 2690 meters, an area of about 50.1 square kilometers, an average depth of about 40 meters, and a maximum depth of 93 meters. It is the third deepest freshwater lake in China

Lugu Lake is known as the "Daughter Country of the East", where multiple ethnic groups such as the Mosuo people live. The Mosuo people, who have lived by the shores of Lugu Lake for generations, maintain the tradition of "matrilineal big families" and walking marriages, and are known as the world's only matrilineal tribe and the "living fossil" of human society

Lugu Lake not only has unique cultural charm, but its natural scenery is also enchanting. The lake water is clear to the bottom, with a visibility of up to 12 meters. The overall water quality meets the national Class I standard for surface water, making it one of the clearest high-altitude deep-water lakes in China. There are seven limestone islands in the lake, with curved lakeshores surrounded by mountains. The lakeshore has many peninsulas, headlands, triangular cliffs, and U-shaped glacial valleys. The climate here is pleasant, with no scorching heat in summer and no severe cold in winter, and an average annual temperature of about 12.8 ℃. The annual precipitation is about 1000 millimeters, the relative humidity is 70%, the annual sunshine hours are 2600 hours, and the sunshine rate is 57%

The mysterious charm of Lugu Lake attracts countless tourists to explore. Here, you can feel the perfect fusion of ancient culture and natural beauty, as if you are in a mysterious world

2. Gourmet Journey

(1) Featured Dishes

1. Pig Fat Meat: Mosuo people call pig fat meat "pipa meat", and its preparation method is very particular. Remove the internal organs and bones of the slaughtered pig, sprinkle salt and Sichuan peppercorns in the abdominal cavity, suture the pig, and marinate it in the wind to form a complete cured pig, which looks like a pipa. Pig fat meat can last for years without rotting. During festivals or when guests visit, Mosuo people will use pig fat meat to entertain them. There are various ways to eat pork fat, including boiling, stir frying, and steaming. Although pork fat may seem greasy, it tastes refreshing, mellow, and has a good mouthfeel
2. Tuo Tuo Rou: Tuo Tuo Rou is a unique delicacy of the Yi ethnic group. Cut the meat into fist sized pieces and quickly cook it in a cold water pot over high heat. Remove it and add seasonings to mix well before serving. The main seasonings include salt, chili powder, Sichuan pepper powder, and the local unique "wood ginger seed" powder, which tastes crisp, fresh, and fragrant, with an unparalleled aftertaste
3. Grilled dried fish: Ba fish, a specialty of Lugu Lake, is made by cutting open the fish or making a small incision in the abdomen, removing the internal organs, sprinkling salt, Sichuan peppercorns, and five spice powder, and slowly drying it in a fire pit or iron pot. When eating, grill the dried fish over charcoal or fry it in clear oil until crispy and delicious. It can be directly paired with wine or used to make soup. The soup is milky white in color, rich in aroma, and nutritious
4. Pig Blood Sausage: In Mosuo language, it is called "habu". The method of making it is to mix pig blood, chive roots, onions, ginger, garlic, salt, yellow fruit peel powder, spices, and aged oil in semi cooked rice, fill it into pig intestines, roll it into a circle, and then steam it in a steamer until cooked. When consumed, cut into slices, deep fry, and serve as a complement to wine or tea, with a delicious taste
5. Bitter buckwheat cake: The Xiaoliangshan area is rich in bitter buckwheat, which is considered the king of the five grains in the hearts of the Yi people. Buckwheat cake is made by adding a certain proportion of sugar to buckwheat flour and water, rolling it into a round shape, flattening it, and steaming it. The surface is crispy while the inside is soft and tender, with a natural fragrance and slight bitterness, which can refresh the mind, enrich the intestines and stomach, remove impurities from the five organs, and facilitate absorption and digestion by the human body. When eating, dip in honey and have a refreshing taste with a lingering aftertaste
6. Pickled Sour Fish: A traditional delicacy served by the Mosuo and Pumi families in Ninglang. Choose the fresh split belly fish caught in Lugu Lake, put the live fish into the pottery pot, put a layer of fish and sprinkle a layer of tsamba noodles, salt and other seasonings, fill the jar, and put it in the shade for 10 to 15 days to eat. It can be eaten raw, fried or boiled into Hot and sour soup with chilli. It tastes fresh and refreshing. When eating, first check the color of the garlic at the mouth of the jar. If the garlic is black, it indicates that it is not edible

(II) Beverages and Snacks

1. Flower Candy: Flower candy is a unique delicacy in the Lugu Lake area. After stir frying various grains such as corn, rice, soybeans, buckwheat, etc., barley, malt, and corn are boiled to make sesame sugar water sauce and mixed into various shapes, which are both beautiful and delicious. There are more than ten types of flower candy, including single raw materials and mixed raw materials, such as adding walnut kernels, peanut kernels, melon seed kernels, fruit slices, etc. to a single raw material. The production technique of flower candy has distinct Mosuo characteristics, reflecting the wisdom and creativity of Mosuo people in food processing. When eating flower candy, you can pour a bowl of Sulima wine, which has a sweet and refreshing taste
2. Paoli: A unique kimchi of the Mosuo people. There are many kinds of Ma pears in the local area. People put these Ma pears suitable for soaking in pottery jars, add salt, Baijiu, ginger, garlic, pepper and water in proportion, and eat them after sealing for more than a month. They have sour, sweet, crisp and full-bodied mellow taste, which is unique and is a delicious food. The longer the soaking time, the better the taste
3. Sulima WineSulima Wine is a low alcohol fine wine brewed using traditional Mosuo techniques. It is made by mixing and fermenting various grains such as barley, barley, wheat, buckwheat, barnyard grass, corn, and millet. It is a great choice for Mosuo families to welcome guests, with a slightly orange color, low alcohol content, mellow taste, and rich amino acids, vitamins, and carbohydrates. It is known as "Mosuo beer". Sulima wine has a history of more than 2000 years and plays a very important role in the daily life of the Mosuo people. It is an indispensable necessity in food, hospitality, walking weddings, and other activities
4. Dangdang Wine: In Mosuo language, it is called "Bu Ri" or "An Er Ji". The method of making it is to first mix and cook corn, barley, millet, etc., add yeast for fermentation, then put it in a bottle and cover it tightly. Heat it up in a pot and steam it. When steaming, put a large bowl in the bottle, fill it up and pour it into the bottle or jar to cool. Dangdang wine has a smooth and mellow taste, about 32-37 degrees, but it has a strong aftertaste. When drinking, be careful not to drink too much

III. Accommodation Options

(1) Daliaoshui Village

As the first village developed in Lugu Lake, Daliaoshui Village has many advantages in accommodation. Firstly, transportation is extremely convenient, with airport buses and Lijiang buses directly reaching the Daliaoshui Bus Station. This is very convenient for tourists, whether they have just arrived at Lugu Lake or are preparing to return. Secondly, hotels are concentrated here, and there are also many facilities such as restaurants and convenience stores, making the ecology relatively complete. Here, tourists can easily find various types of accommodation to meet different needs and budgets

Yunlv Guanhu Inn is one of the characteristic hotels in Daliaoshui Village. It has an excellent location to perfectly enjoy the sunrise. The standard room and king size bed at the inn are reasonably priced, around 150 yuan per night, with little cost sharing between two people. Moreover, the inn also provides shuttle services to the bus station, which is very considerate. In addition, from the 3rd floor of the inn, visitors can enjoy excellent lake views. Around 6:40 am, the sky begins to brighten up, and visitors can slowly appreciate the beautiful sunrise from the balcony

(II) Lige Village and other villages

Lige Village used to be very popular. Although the number of lakeside homestays has decreased after demolition, it still has its unique charm. The environment of Lige Village is quiet and the scenery is beautiful, especially the lake view houses in Lige Bay, which make people linger and forget to leave. If you want to enjoy the beautiful lake scenery, Lige Village is a good choice. Recommended is the Yufan Luxury Castle Travel Photography Inn in Lugu Lake. The courtyard and platform of this homestay adopt Moroccan style architecture, coupled with a 180 degree large terrace castle, making the photos super stunning. It can also be walked to the Rigg Peninsula

Xiaoluoshui Village and Nisai Village are also gathering places for bus groups. Xiaoluoshui Village is relatively quiet, but there are relatively few accommodation and dining options. Nisai Village is close to the Goddess Mountain Cableway, but there are only a few restaurants by the roadside and it is also a certain distance from the lake, so it is not recommended

4. Must visit attractions

(1) Observation Deck

1. Lugu Lake Full Landscape Observation Deck: The Lugu Lake Full Landscape Observation Deck is located next to the Ninglu Highway on the south bank of Lugu Lake, near the entrance of the Lugu Lake Scenic Area. Generally, tourists drive from Lijiang and will arrive here as soon as they enter the gate. The view here is very broad, with blue lake water, blue sky, green trees surrounding the lake shore, and beautiful scenery of the Rigg Peninsula all within sight. A couplet on the observation deck highly summarizes the beautiful mountains and rivers, cultural history, legendary folk customs, and the impression it gives to others: encountering mountains, waters, emotions, and the fairyland of Lugu Lake, the daughter country is forever charming; Forget about scenery, forget about objects, forget about the world, forget about the vicissitudes of life, and dream about smoke and clouds. The observation deck is open all day and the admission fee is free, which is included in the ticket for Lugu Lake Scenic Area. The reference time is less than 1 hour<
2. Rigg Observation Deck: Rigg Observation Deck is the best location to view the Rigg Peninsula, which presents a peach heart shape. The Lige Sightseeing Platform is located in Lugu Lake National Scenic Area, Ninglang Yi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. The bus can take the tourist shuttle bus that leaves from the Yuhe Square parking lot at the mouth of the Old Town of Lijiang every morning to Lugu Lake, and you can arrive at Daluoshui Village. The round-trip fare is 160 yuan per person, 100 yuan per person for one way, and it leaves at 8:00 in the morning, about 4.5 hours. The Rigg Observation Deck is open all day, with free admission and a reference time of 1-3 hours. This is one of the best places to see the Lige Peninsula from a high place, and almost all tourists who come to Lugu Lake will not miss it. There is a parking spot next to the observation deck, and you can drive directly from the lakeside highway. From the observation deck, the entire Lige Peninsula and Lugu Lake form a huge heart, which is also the most classic scenery of Lugu Lake. You can overlook the entire Lige Peninsula extending into the lake, as well as the distant Camel Peak, Lake Island, and Bird Island. To the left of the observation deck is the Rigg Peninsula, and to the right is Rigg Village

(II) Featured Areas

1. Lover's Beach: Lugu Lake has two Lover's Beach, one is the Luoshui Lover's Beach in Yunnan and the other is the Libai Lover's Beach in Sichuan. The trees by the lake grow in pairs, standing by the lake like lovers who never abandon each other, and the name Lover's Beach comes from this. According to legend, Lover's Beach is the place where the goddess Gem and the god of Houlongshan meet. The environment here is beautiful, and the scenery varies throughout the four seasons. In spring, the sunset is enchanting, and the lake shimmers like golden sand under the sunset. Several wooden boats swim in the lake; In summer, at the beginning of May, the crystal clear lake water sways with white seaweed flowers, which are the touchstone and indicator of water quality; In autumn, the Gesang flowers bloom, and the pasture is filled with gorgeous Gesang flowers, as if stepping into Alice's Wonderland; In winter, migratory birds gather, full of storytelling. Lover's Beach is open all day and admission is free. It is included in the ticket for Lugu Lake Scenic Area and takes less than 1 hour
2. Lige Peninsula: The Lige Peninsula is located within Lugu Lake and can be seen from the Lige Observation Deck in the shape of a peach heart. The scenery here is charming, with blue lake water and warm sunshine, the scenery is absolutely first-class. The Rigg Peninsula is like a jade hairpin, extending into the blue lake water. Slowly climb up the mountain, not very high, but from low to high, and with the change of angle, you can enjoy different scenery
3. Xiaoluoshui: Xiaoluoshui Village is relatively quiet, but there are relatively few accommodation and dining options. Xiaoluoshui Village is one of the gathering places for bus groups
4. Luyuanya: (Natural scenery or cultural characteristics of Luyuanya can be added here, but it is not mentioned in the search materials, so it will not be expanded for now)
5. Goddess Bay: Goddess Bay is the best place to enjoy sunsets and sunsets, facing Mount Geum Goddess. The afterglow of the setting sun pours down here, with layers of blue waves floating on top of a colorful golden veil, mysterious and elegant
6. Grass Sea: Grass Sea is an endless grassland, rooted on the shore of Lugu Lake, where countless wild birds inhabit the water. The famous walking wedding bridge in Caohai is known as the "number one magpie bridge in the world". It is a 300 meter long walking wedding bridge that extends from the reeds in Caohai. The walking wedding bridge spans the sea of grass, passes through the reeds, and reaches the villages on both sides
7. Walking Marriage Bridge: The walking marriage bridge connects villages on both sides of the strait, facilitating communication and providing a dating channel for young men and women. It is hailed as the "number one magpie bridge in the world" by later generations. Legend has it that a long, long time ago, a couple in love lived on both sides of the Grass Sea. The Mosuo people practiced the custom of "men do not marry, women do not marry". Every night, Aju (male lover) would row the Mosuo people's unique pigsty boat to meet Axia (female lover) on the other side, and the next day before dawn, he would row the pigsty boat back home. No matter the wind, frost, rain, snow, cold or heat, it never stops. Watching Ah Zhu rowing back and forth every day in danger and hardship, Ah Xia felt extremely sorry and decided to persuade the chieftain and his tribe to build a bridge over the grassy sea. After more than two years of effort, a simple wooden bridge about 300 meters long was finally built, which later became known as the "Walking Marriage Bridge"
8. Queen's Island: Queen's Island is very unique and can only be reached by taking a pigsty boat. (More specific descriptions of the unique features of Queen's Island can be added here, but as they were not mentioned in the search materials, they will not be expanded at this time)

V. Transportation

(1) Self driving Tour

Driving from Lijiang to Lugu Lake is a fun and challenging choice. The main route is Lijiang Yongsheng Ninglang Lugu Lake, with a total distance of about 200 kilometers and a travel time of about 3.5 hours. This route has beautiful scenery along the way, passing through magnificent mountains and peaceful countryside, and also offering views of scenic spots such as Yongsheng Chenghai and Ninglang Qinglong Sea. In addition, there are also routes available for selection, such as Lijiang Huaping Ninglang Lugu Lake, Lijiang Yongsheng Binchuan Heqing Eryuan Yunlong Lugu Lake, Lijiang Yongsheng Binchuan Heqing Eryuan Jianchuan Shaxi Lugu Lake, etc

(II) Buses

Lijiang Bus Station has buses heading to Lugu Lake. According to the information retrieved, the schedule of bus services at Lijiang Bus Station shows that the departure times of buses from Lijiang to Lugu Lake are relatively abundant, with multiple time points such as 9:00, 10:00, 12:00, 15:20, etc. The drive takes about 3.5 hours and the distance is 200 kilometers, but it is all on mountain roads

(III) Charter services

Charter services are a comfortable and convenient mode of transportation. The available models for chartering include sedans, commercial vehicles, off-road vehicles, etc., and the number of vehicles can be determined based on the number of passengers

(IV) Cycling

Cycling is a challenging and enjoyable mode of transportation. The circumference of Lugu Lake is about 76 kilometers, and the road conditions are good. There are both flat lakeside roads and winding mountain roads, which add a lot of challenges and fun to cycling