Lugu Lake and Mosuo People


Lugu Lake is one of the most fascinating and mysterious natural wonders in China, located in Yunnan Province, on the border with Sichuan, at an altitude of about 2,685 meters above sea level. This lake is famous not only for its breathtaking beauty, but also for its unique culture and local traditions, which attract numerous visitors every year. Along its perimeter there are extraordinary landscapes and villages that seem to belong to another era.

Lugu Lake is surrounded by green mountains and a pristine natural environment, making the landscape absolutely spectacular. The lake has a surface area of ​​about 52 square kilometers and is fed by numerous streams from the surrounding mountains. Its deep blue color and crystal clear waters are among the main reasons why the lake is considered one of the most beautiful in China.


Visitors can hike along the lake or rent traditional boats, which allow them to see the islands scattered around the lake up close. Some of these islands are covered with lush vegetation, while others are home to small temples and historical structures. The beauty of the lake changes with the seasons, offering a different spectacle with each visit: in spring and summer, the lake is dressed in bright colors, while in autumn and winter the mountain landscapes become more mysterious and silent.


One of the most fascinating aspects of Lugu Lake is the presence of the Mosuo community, one of the last populations in the world to have a matriarchal tradition. The Mosuo are known for their unique family structure, in which women are the central figures and the social system is matrilineal. This means that inheritance and property pass through the female line, and the mother figure is respected as the spiritual and social leader of the family.


In the village of Lugu, visitors can experience this unique culture, observing how Mosuo women manage their daily life, household activities and relationships. The Mosuo live in multi-story houses, where women and their children live together, while men are generally engaged in outside activities, such as fishing or farming. One of the most fascinating traditions of the Mosuo is the "walking marriage", a type of relationship in which couples do not live together, but meet during the night and continue to live separately.


Visiting Mosuo villages also offers the opportunity to learn and participate in traditional dances, such as those performed during festivals and celebrations. Music and songs are essential to the social life of these people, and are a way to preserve their culture and pass it on to new generations.

A winding mountain road curves through rugged terrain at sunset, with silhouetted peaks against a deep blue sky.
A winding mountain road curves through rugged terrain at dusk with silhouetted peaks in the background.
Aerial view of deep blue Lake Lugu surrounded by mountains and forested hills under a bright blue sky with white clouds.
Dramatic mountain landscape overlooking deep blue waters of Lugu Lake with small islands and rugged peaks under blue sky.
Someone sits near a motorcycle at a scenic mountain lake with blue skies and white clouds on a sunny day.
A small lighthouse stands on a rocky shore beside a mountain lake under dramatic clouds and blue sky.
A person wearing a baseball cap in profile view smoking on a street with mountains and buildings in the background.
People browse through market stalls under a covered roof in a traditional Asian marketplace.
Traditional colorful headscarf and warm clothing worn by someone from an ethnic minority group in Asia.
Person wearing traditional black headdress with vibrant plaid scarf and holding small pipe in rural setting.
A long wooden boardwalk with red railings stretches across wetlands with mountains and cloudy skies in the background.
A red pickup truck is loaded with goods on a dirt road in a mountainous rural area beneath puffy white clouds.
A horse stands among bare trees on reddish soil near a lake with mountains and dramatic cloudy sky in the background.
Bare tree branches frame a serene mountain lake view against a moody sky at sunset.
A hiker sits on rocky cliffs overlooking a serene mountain lake under moody skies at sunset.
A boat guide stands on wooden docks beside colorful kayaks on a serene mountain lake under blue skies.
Reflection in storefront window shows mountain backdrop and retail displays in a small town shop.
A silhouetted figure in a black jacket stands on a street corner at sunset with neon signs glowing in the background.
People in traditional attire gather around flickering candles during a cultural ceremony.
Crowd gathers for nighttime dancing and festivities outside traditional Korean house with mountain silhouette in background.
Guests dance and mingle at a rustic outdoor reception venue illuminated by warm lights under a starlit mountain sky.
Three indigenous artisans in traditional Peruvian dress weave textiles while sitting beneath colorful prayer flags.
Two merchants sit at their local shop displaying traditional wool and textiles for sale.
Scenic mountain sunset overlooking a tranquil lake with silhouetted cliffs and trees in the foreground.
Scenic sunset view over a mountain lake with silhouetted trees and warm glowing sky in the distance.
Silhouette of a monkey sitting on railing against sunset sky and mountain backdrop.
Misty morning fog settles over a serene lake surrounded by mountains and forests at sunrise.
A small remote building perched on a rocky peninsula overlooking a misty mountain lake at dusk.
A silhouetted figure stands in a patch of dramatic sunlight streaming through a window in a dark interior space.