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The Lige Peninsula of Lugu Lake with the Mosuo village, Yunnan
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Lugu Lake Travel Guide — the highland lake of the Mosuo - Lige, the Caohai reeds, the Walking Bridge and the matrilineal villages

Lugu Lake is the 2,680-m highland lake on the Yunnan-Sichuan border where the Mosuo people keep the matrilineal 'walking marriage' - the lake of the Daughter Kingdom of legend. The full circuit is about 76 km: Lige village (the best place to stay, on its peninsula), Daluoshui with the Mosuo culture road, the old Xiaoluoshui of twenty households, the Caohai reed sea with more than 100 bird species, the 300-m Walking Bridge, the Liwubi Island with its temple, and the 3,754.7-m Goddess Mountain above. The field guide budgets about RMB 1,300 for a 3-day visit. This guide carries the tickets, boat fares, hotels, restaurants, transport and the practical numbers from the guide, so you can plan it yourself or have our team arrange it end to end.

Lugu LakeMosuoLigeDaluoshuiCaohaiWalking BridgeGoddess MountainYunnan
3 DaysThe classic 3 days cover the full 76-km circuit, the boat rides and the Goddess Mountain cableway
RMB 1,300Entry RMB 100 (Yunnan) or RMB 80 (Sichuan), boats RMB 30-80, beds from RMB 60 and a five-star from RMB 680
April-NovemberThe rhododendrons of April-June, the green Caohai of August and the cosmos of November
Free Booking HelpHotels, tickets & tours by our team
What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Lugu Lake Bucket Listthe circuit, the boats, the reed sea and the goddess mountain

01

Ride the full 76-km circuit

The clockwise loop from Lige - the lake, the villages and the mountain views, started before 07:00 for the still morning water.

02

Row a Mosuo dugout

The pig-trough boats of the lake - RMB 30 per person from Lige, RMB 30 to the Princess Island from Xiaoluoshui, RMB 40 to Liwubi Island.

03

Walk the Walking Bridge

The 300-m bridge over the Caohai reeds - the symbol of the Mosuo walking marriage, with the reed sea on both sides.

04

Ride the Goddess Mountain cableway

The 3,754.7-m peak above the lake - the cableway at RMB 90 and the view over the whole lake and the ranges.

05

Dance the bonfire night

The evening achia dance of the villages - RMB 20 at Lige, RMB 30 at Nisai, the warmest night of the trip.

06

Watch the birds of the Caohai

The reed sea is the kingdom of birds - more than 100 species in the winter months.

Top Highlightsthe peninsula, the reeds and the mountain

No.1Lige Peninsula

Lige Peninsula

The lakefront village and the best sunsets.

No.2The lake at dawn

The lake at dawn

The mist over the still water.

No.3The islands

The islands

The boat rides to Liwubi and the temple.

No.4The mountain above

The mountain above

The Goddess Mountain cableway view.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Lugu Lake

How do I get to Lugu Lake from Lijiang?

About 200 km and 5-6 hours. The tourist special bus runs direct to Lige (RMB 100 one way / RMB 160 return, valid a week, departs 08:00 from the old-town parking lot); the express-coach terminal (+86 888 514 0888) has the RMB 73 coaches at 09:00 and 12:00 to Daluoshui; a hired car is RMB 400-800.

How much is the entry ticket?

RMB 100 at the Yunnan (Ninglang) gate or RMB 80 at the Sichuan (Yanyuan) gate - the park phone is +86 834 639 0302 (Sichuan) / +86 888 516 6900 (Yunnan).

Where is the best place to stay?

Lige village - the lakefront rooms and the peninsula sunsets; Daluoshui for the Mosuo culture road and the night market; the Caohai lakeside for the reeds; the five-star Silver Lake Island Hotel at Daluoshui.

Is the lake a loop?

Yes - the circuit is about 76 km. Go clockwise and start before 07:00; the villages, the boat piers and the viewpoints are strung along the road.

Can I see the Mosuo culture?

Yes - the Daluoshui Mosuo Culture Museum, the walking-marriage villages, the bonfire dances and the boat songs; ask before photographing the families.

When is the best season?

The rhododendrons of April-June, the green Caohai of August and the cosmos flowers of November; winter is clear and cold with the migrant birds.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Lugu Lake trip?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the lakefront rooms, the boat rides, the Goddess Mountain cableway and the Lijiang transfers, free of charge.

Sample Itinerariesthe three-day circuit of the lake

Lugu Lake 3-Day Circuit: Lige, Caohai & the Goddess Mountain

The peninsula, the reed sea, the bridge and the mountain - the full lake. View the plan →

Day 1

The morning special bus from Lijiang (5-6 hours), the Lige peninsula rooms, the lakeside walk and the sunset, then the bonfire night (RMB 20).

Day 2

The clockwise circuit - Daluoshui, the Caohai reed sea, the Walking Bridge, Liwubi Island by boat, and the Goddess Mountain cableway for the panorama.

Day 3

The dawn lake, a last boat ride from Lige (RMB 30), then the special bus back to Lijiang.

Lugu Lake 2-Day Yunnan-Sichuan Crossing

The two provinces of the lake and the crossing by boat. View the plan →

Day 1

Lijiang to Lugu Lake, the Lige or Daluoshui rooms, the lakefront walk and the bonfire night.

Day 2

The circuit to the Sichuan side - the Caohai, the Walking Bridge and the Luowa pier, then the boat from Yunnan to Sichuan (RMB 80) or back to Lijiang by bus.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Lugu Lake itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Lige Village

Lige Village

The lakefront village on its peninsula - the best place to stay, the sunset views and the boat pier; the bonfire dance costs RMB 20.

Free · All day · Peninsula · Village
View details →
Daluoshui

Daluoshui

The largest Mosuo village with the Mosuo Culture Road - the museum, the lakefront walk and the night market.

Free · All day · Culture · Village
View details →
Caohai (Reed Sea)

Caohai (Reed Sea)

The 10-km reed sea at the north of the lake - the kingdom of birds with more than 100 species, green in summer and golden in autumn.

Free · Daylight hours · Reeds · Birds
View details →
The Walking Bridge

The Walking Bridge

The 300-m wooden bridge over the Caohai - the symbol of the Mosuo walking marriage and the great photo of the lake.

Free · Daylight hours · Bridge · Mosuo
View details →
Liwubi Island

Liwubi Island

The island with the Liwubi Temple - the dragon-and-phoenix painted hall; boats from Lige cost about RMB 40.

Boat RMB 40 · Daylight hours · Island · Temple
View details →
Goddess Mountain (Gemu)

Goddess Mountain (Gemu)

The 3,754.7-m peak above the lake - the cableway at RMB 90 and the whole lake from the summit; the Mountain Turning Festival is on the 25th of the seventh lunar month.

RMB 90 · 08:00-17:00 · Cableway · Mountain
View details →
Nisai Village (Lover Tree)

Nisai Village (Lover Tree)

The village with the two 'lover trees' of the legend and the quietest lakefront rooms.

Free · All day · Village · Legend
View details →
Boao Island (Princess Island)

Boao Island (Princess Island)

The island where Xiao Shuming, the 16-year-old bride of the Mosuo chieftain Labaochen, lived - the 'princess' story of the lake; boats from Xiaoluoshui cost RMB 30.

Boat RMB 30 · Daylight hours · Island · History
View details →

More in the region on the Yunnan attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsthe boats, the rides, the bonfires and the mountain festival

The pig-trough boats

The dugout boats of the lake - RMB 30 per person from Lige, RMB 30 from Xiaoluoshui to the Princess Island, RMB 40 to Liwubi Island, RMB 80 to cross from Yunnan to Sichuan.

The circuit ride

Bicycles rent at RMB 30 a day and e-bikes at RMB 80 - the 76-km loop clockwise with the villages and the viewpoints.

The bonfire nights

The evening achia dances - RMB 20 at Lige, RMB 30 at Nisai; the Erche Zhuoma barbecue at Lige (+86 139 8884 2854) for the late night.

Phone: +86 139 8884 2854

The Mountain Turning Festival

The 25th of the seventh lunar month - the Mosuo pilgrimage around the Goddess Mountain with the horses and the picnics.

Where to Staylakefront rooms from RMB 60 to the five-star

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Yunnan hotels directory.

Husi Chawu Teahouse (Daluoshui)

The classic lakefront guesthouse at Daluoshui - from RMB 164; +86 888 588 6960 / +86 888 582 5071.

Phone: +86 888 588 6960 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Hutu Suiyue (Daluoshui)

The comfortable lakefront hotel - from RMB 300; +86 888 582 0555.

Phone: +86 888 582 0555 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Moshang Huakai (Lige)

The popular lakefront guesthouse at the upper Lige village - from RMB 70; +86 888 588 1111.

Phone: +86 888 588 1111 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Lige Holiday Inn

The lakefront hotel of Lige - from RMB 168; +86 888 582 3987 / +86 888 582 3986.

Phone: +86 888 582 3987 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Daoshang Renjia (Lige)

The island-house guesthouse of Lige - from RMB 150; +86 888 588 1050.

Phone: +86 888 588 1050 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Bian (The Other Shore, Lige)

The stylish lakefront guesthouse - from RMB 300; +86 888 588 1885 / +86 888 582 0050.

Phone: +86 888 588 1885 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Lao Xie Che Ma Dian (Lige)

The Old Xie Carriage House of Lige - from RMB 70; +86 888 588 1555 / +86 888 588 1333.

Phone: +86 888 588 1555 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Silver Lake Island Hotel

The five-star at Daluoshui - from RMB 680; +86 888 588 2888.

Phone: +86 888 588 2888 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Hupan Youth Hostel (Caohai)

The lakeside hostel by the reeds - from RMB 80; +86 888 582 4284.

Phone: +86 888 582 4284 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantspig-belly pork, Suli wine and the lakeside fish

Pig-belly pork (zhu biao rou)

The preserved pork of the Mosuo - the whole pig boned, salted and pressed, sliced thin for the table.

Sulima wine

The millet wine of the Mosuo - sweet, low-alcohol and offered at every family table.

Bitter buckwheat cakes

The dark, nutty cakes of the highland buckwheat - the staple of the lakeside breakfast.

Pickled sour fish

The fermented fish of the lake - the classic Mosuo side dish.

Haorenjia Restaurant (Zhaojiawan)

The lakeside restaurant at about RMB 30 per head - the fresh fish of the lake.

Mosuo banquet (Xiaoluoshui)

The set Mosuo dinner of the old village - the pork, the wine and the songs.

Erche Zhuoma barbecue (Lige)

The peninsula barbecue at +86 139 8884 2854 - the evening grills of Lige.

Phone: +86 139 8884 2854

Shopping & Souvenirsapple chips, green-fruit oil and the hand-woven weaves

Apple chips (ping guo gan)

The dried apple slices of the region - sweet, light and the classic take-home.

Green-fruit oil (qing ci guo you)

The pressed oil of the wild green-fruit - the Mosuo beauty oil, at the lakeside shops.

Hand-woven scarves & shawls

The wool and cotton weaves of the Mosuo women - the colours of the lake.

The Yongning market

The weekly market about 25 km away - a hired jeep at RMB 150-200 a day or the RMB 5 minivan; buy the apples, the wine and the weaves here.

Avoid the 'tobacco' stalls

The 'Dongba / Naxi / horse-caravan cigarettes' sold on the lakeside are the classic tourist trap - the local shops do not sell them.

Full local-product guides live on the Yunnan specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundfrom Lijiang, Ninglang, Xichang and the Sichuan side

About 200 km, 5-6 hours - the tourist special bus direct to Lige (RMB 100 / return RMB 160, 08:00 from the old-town parking lot), the express-coach terminal (+86 888 514 0888) coaches at 09:00 and 12:00 to Daluoshui (RMB 73), or a hired car at RMB 400-800.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

The county seat is about 2 hours away - minivans to Daluoshui, Yongning and Lige at RMB 30 per person.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

About 265 km, 6-7 hours - coaches from the Xichang coach terminal (+86 834 322 3865) at 06:30 and 08:30, changing at Yanyuan; the Xichang airport is +86 834 610 1737 and the station +86 834 862 0013.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

A full-day circuit car with the driver is RMB 400-800 depending on the season - the flexible way to see the whole lake.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/GoWNbhC4ro5gBAxZQWvcROtNnxg

The boat from the Luowa pier to the Sichuan side costs RMB 80 per person (+86 834 630 2403) - the water route of the two provinces.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/GK46bT82doid74xwzu3cLiQtnFf

Day Trips From Lugu Lakethe islands, the reeds and the mountain

Lige Island Boat Day Trip

Lige Island Boat Day Trip

The pig-trough boats, Liwubi Island and the temple in a morning.

Caohai & Walking Bridge Day Trip

Caohai & Walking Bridge Day Trip

The reed sea, the birds and the 300-m bridge of the north lake.

Goddess Mountain Cableway Day Trip

Goddess Mountain Cableway Day Trip

The cableway to 3,754.7 m and the whole lake below.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

Cash is king

ATMs are rare and often out of service - the only ones are at Daluoshui and the Lugu Lake town; the villages take cash only. Bring enough for the boats, the meals and the beds.

The guesthouses skip disposables

Bring your own toothbrush and toiletries - the lakeside inns do not provide the single-use sets.

The circuit needs an early start

Start the 76-km loop clockwise before 07:00 - the morning water is the clearest and the light is the best.

Respect the Mosuo ways

The 'walking marriage' is a living culture - do not joke about it; ask before photographing the families; the taboos against dog, cat, frog and horse meat are real.

Dress for 2,680 m

The altitude is gentle but the lake is cool even in summer - carry a warm layer for the evenings and the cableway top.

Winter birds, autumn flowers

The migrant birds crowd the Caohai in winter; the cosmos flowers colour the shores in November.

Practical Informationbanks, hospitals, emergencies and local help

Lugu Lake scenic office (Yunnan)

The Yunnan-side park office: +86 888 516 6900.

Phone: +86 888 516 6900

Lugu Lake scenic office (Sichuan)

The Sichuan-side park office: +86 834 639 0302.

Phone: +86 834 639 0302

Lugu Lake clinic

The lakeside clinic: +86 888 639 0120.

Phone: +86 888 639 0120

Tourism consultation

The Yanyuan tourism office: +86 834 639 0322 / +86 834 636 2125.

Phone: +86 834 639 0322

Lugu Lake police station

The lakeside police: +86 888 588 1110.

Phone: +86 888 588 1110

Yunnan tourism complaint line

The provincial complaints line: +86 871 460 8315.

Phone: +86 871 460 8315

Background & Historythe Daughter Kingdom of the Mosuo

The walking marriage

The Mosuo of the lake keep the matrilineal custom - the women head the households, the children belong to the mother's family, and the 'walking marriage' visits at night without a legal bond.

The Daughter Kingdom

The legend of the kingdom of women has been told since the Tang dynasty; the Mosuo call themselves the Na - the people of the lake.

The Princess Island

Xiao Shuming, the daughter of a warlord, married the Mosuo chieftain Labaochen at 16 and lived on Boao Island - her story is the modern legend of the lake.

The mountain religion

The Goddess Mountain is the holy peak of the Mosuo; the Bon and Buddhist traditions mix with the worship of the mountain goddess on the 25th of the seventh lunar month.

Plan Your Lugu Lake Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Lugu Lake trip lives on the site.

Yunnan Attractions

Yunnan Attractions

Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Yunnan attraction.

Browse Yunnan sights
Lugu Lake Hotels

Lugu Lake Hotels

Star-rated hotels across Yunnan — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.

Book a Yunnan hotel
Flights & Trains

Flights & Trains

Routes, airlines and schedules for flights and rail to Lugu Lake.

See China flights
Yunnan Specialties

Yunnan Specialties

Local products, crafts and foods of Yunnan — where to find each one.

Browse Yunnan specialties
Yunnan Travel Agencies

Yunnan Travel Agencies

Licensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.

Find a Yunnan agency
More China Travel Guides

More China Travel Guides

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