Lugu Hu Travel Guide
Lugu Hu (Lugu Lake) is a stunning lake at altitude on the Yunnan/Sichuan border in southern China. It has some unique scenery and good hiking and boating, as well as villages and a nearby town.
- What is It?
- A beautiful high up lake surrounded by mountains and villages.
- When to Go
- April through September when it is warm.
- Nearest Town
- the closest access town is Lijiang over 200kms away by road.
- Don't Miss
- trekking around the lake.
- Trivia
- the Mosuo people still practice a system of matriarchy, whereby women make all the rules.
The curious Mosuo people, known for their traditional matriarchal system and odd culture, live around Lugu Hu. Mosuo traditions include Mosuo walking marriage and the Walk Around Mountain Festival. The nicest place to stay in Lugu Hu is in the north lakeshore village of Lige, where there are several cheap hotels. Nearby Luoshui has better facilities yet is a bit touristy.
Boating trips on Lugu Hu are popular as well as treks around the lake and mountains. There is also a cable car that runs up into the mountains for great views. On this mountain is a cave and many monkeys. Lige and Luoshui, like any remote Chinese mountain towns, have their fair share of arts and crafts produced by the locals.
Travel to Lugu Hu - Getting There
Routes S991 and S307 serve Lugu Hu from Lijiang. Buses take around 4 or 5 hours to make the windy journey and another 5 hours to Kunming, the capital. Kunming International Airport receives flights from all over China and Southeast Asia. It is a 45-minute flight from Lijiang.
