The Lugu Lake is located between Ninglang Yi Prefecture of Yunnan Province and Yanyuan County of Sichuan Province. As a famous lake on plateau, the Lugu Lake covers an area of 51.8 square meters, and is 2,680 meters above sea level, with a cool climate, the absolute high temperatures do not exceed 30 degrees in summer, is the best place to take the summer holiday there. The lowest temperature is about four or five degrees below zero in the winter, and the lake does not freeze. Winter, wear a thin woolen sweater and a jacket is enough, because of the coldest temperature generally occur in the early morning and the midnight.

The lake is surrounded by dense forests and the air there is pure and fresh. Since people seldom visit the Lugu Lake, it is one of the least destroyed places in China. The lake is crystal clear and has a beautiful landscape. Moreover, the Lugu Lake is abundant in various kinds of fish, such as carp, thin scale fish, and Lugu belly-split fish, etc.

On the lakeside lives a special minority group Mosuo, a rare group still carrying on the matriarchal clan system. Their unique Axia marriage system and primitive folk custom add a mysterious and splendid color to the ancient land reputed as the mysterious oriental kingdom of girls.

The Lugu Lake perfectly combines the natural landscape with the human culture, especially the distinctive folk custom of the Mosuo people, which is an irreplaceable world cultural heritage and adds a unique flavor to the lake. The Lugu Lake attracts numerous tourists from home and abroad with its beautiful scenery, primitive and mysterious culture, ancient religious custom, and elegant folk dance. If you do not want to go hiking or camping, you can leave the outdoor equipment at the hotel, because around the lake are all Mosuo people lives. You can go to their homes, drink warm tea and chat with those grandmothers (although they maybe not quite fluent in speaking mandarin), you'll forget all fatigue there.

 

Key Words:
宁蒗彝族自治县 Nínglàng Yízú Zìzhìxiàn: Ninglang Yi Prefecture
盐源县 Yányuán Xiàn: Yanyuan County
鲤鱼 Lǐyú: carp
细鳞鱼 Xìlín Yú: thin scale fish
泸沽裂腹鱼 Lúgū Lièfù Yú: Lugu belly-split fish
东方女儿国 Dōngfāng Nǚ'ér Guó: Oriental Kingdom of Girls