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Lugu Lake

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Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is located between Ninglang County, Yunnan province and Yanyuan County, Sichuan province. It covers an area of 52 square kilometers. The average depth of the lake is 45 meters and the deepest point is 93 meters. The water is so clear, that with the greatest visibility, you can see under water to about 12 meters. The lake water flows eastwards to the Yalong River and finally into the surging Jingshajiang River (the Golden Sand River). Lugu Lake is long and narrow, just like a gourd filled with limpid water. Lugu means "falling into the water". On the lakeside lives a special minority group known as the Mosuo, a rare group who still carry on a unique Axia marriage system called visiting marriage. Adult men can visit adult women's house at night. The lovers call each other "Axia" which means "dear lover". The Mosuo people worship female gods and women are the heads of their families. Because of the unique matriarchy, well-preserved by the Mosuo people, the Mosuo society is called "Girls' Kingdom". It is a living fossil of matrilineal society. Thanks to the mountains, Lugu Lake had remained hidden away in a peaceful world until the 1970's, when it was connected with Ninglang County by roads. Without the pollution of modern industry the water of the lake is so clear that at some points you can see to the bottom.

Legend  

There is an interesting story behind the lake. Long long ago, when Lugu was a valley, there was an orphan who made a living by herding cattle for other people in the Lion Mountain. One day he was so tired that he fell asleep under a tree. He saw a big fish in his dream. The fish said, "poor boy if you feel hungry, you can cut off my meat for lunch." When the boy woke up, he found a big fish in a cave as expected. He cut the meat of the fish and toasted it for lunch. The second day he found the cut recovered by itself. Before long, a greedy man in the village found out about the fish and decided he should have it. He gathered several men to pull the big fish out of the cave using nine horses and nine cattle. Suddenly, a rush of water from the cave flooded them and the whole village. One woman who saw the flood coming kicked the pigs away from the feeding trough and placed her boy and girl inside. The flood swept her away, but the trough floated and their race was saved. To commemorate the heroic mother, people now still use the same boats called "pig trough boats" made of a whole log. Lugu Lake is called "Mama Lake" by the local people.

Places of Interest:

Lugu Lake

Surrounded by green mountains, Lugu Lake has clear shimmering waters and gorgeous island landscapes. Altogether there are 17 sand bars, 14 bays, 5 islands, 3 bylands and 1 sea wall islet around the lake. The islands are 15 to 30 meters above the water. Looking from the distance they are like green boats floating in the lake. Among the five islands, Heiwawu Island, Liwubi Island and Lige Island are under the jurisdiction of Ninglang County. The three islands are metaphorically called "The Three Islands of Penglai" (the Islands of the Immortals). Sitting in the middle of the lake, Heiwawu Island is about 2,500 meters from the bank of Lugu Lake. The whole island is covered with different species of trees. It is a paradise for migratory and resident birds. Attracted by the unusually quiet environment on the island, Ayunshan, the Tusi of Yongning, built his Xanadu on the island. Rock, an American scholar, used to reside on this island. In his book, "The Ancient Na-khi Kingdom of Southwest China", Rock described the island as a fairyland for gods. Standing on the south side of the Lugu Lake, Lige Island is located at the foot of the Lion Mountain. It is a beautiful island connected with the sea wall by a stone path. A dozen Mosuo families live on this island. All of the houses on the island are built facing the water. You can smell the sweet air just by opening the windows. What a restful existence.

The Girls' Kingdom-Mosuo People

The Girls' Kingdom Tourist Line consists of two areas:

The first scenic area includes the villages of the Mosuo people and Lugu Lake. There you can enjoy the incredibly beautiful scenery of Lugu Lake. You can visit the houses called Mulengzi of the Mosuo people.  You can cruise the lake by pig trough boats. You can also learn about the unique "Axia visiting marriage". Because of its convenient location, Luoshui Village on the north bank of Lugu Lake has become the most popular site in this area.

The second scenic area is Yongning County, 20 kilometers north of Luoshui Village. The famous Zhamei Temple and Yongning Hot Springs are located there. In Yongning County you will have the opportunity to see the practice of Tibetan Buddhism, the culture of the Naxi people, and the folkways of the Mosuo people. 

 

 

 

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