Lugu Lake (Lúgū Hú 泸沽湖) is located at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan Province. It is 202km north of Lijiang and is also under the control of both provinces. The lake is a high mountain plateau lake.  2685 meters above sea level and has an area of 48.5 square km. The deepest end of the lake is about 93.5 meters. The beauty of the lake with its surrounding breath-taking scenery makes this lake an excellent tourist resort. It is surrounded by high and sublime mountains. Since the lake is rather deep, a definite regulating influence is exerted on the temperature of the lakeshores. Therefore the surrounding mountains abound in forest resources that afford an exquisite beauty, much fresh air and charming scenery. At present it is one of the places in China that is least damaged by human activity and best preserved in its natural features.  

The Mosuo people, a minority group considered to be a sub clan of Naxi people, are the main inhabitants of the area. They still hold on to their traditional matriarchal society where the inheritance is passing on through the female lineage. Hence this area is also known as "The Last Girls Empire".

Customs
The Mosuo people live in log cabins, in the middle of which there is a kitchen range each where fire keeps burning forever. They put food beside the kitchens for worshiping their ancestors.
When boys and girls aged thirteen years old, a ceremony shall be held to celebrate their growing-up. In the ceremony, standing on pork under a column (the upper end being the column of women and the lower end that of men), boys put on leather boots and wear red gimp lace on the waist; girls put on top-knots from ancestors and white pleated skirts. Afterwards, both sides can begin social contacts. Young men are allowed to pursue girls publicly. He can cohabit with a girl on condition that girl approves. In the morning, lots of men come and go. They all come out of their lovers' house. The relation is not steady when they are young. Sons and daughters all live with their mothers and their fathers have no duty to take care of them. When men become old, their nephews support them.

Marriage free - "Axiao"(阿肖) Lovers
Mosuo People are marriage-free. When the Mosuo girls reached 15 years of age, the boys reached 17, they are allowed to start their love affairs. The lovers found each other freely. Mosuo people are good in singing and dancing. The young people dance together and sing in Musou language to express their love.

The Musou girl has a special "Axiao house to meet her lover. Her lover visits her during the whole night and leave in the morning.
If the girl wishes to stop the love affair, she closed the door of her "Axiao" House to the man. Then the man can’t come again. The love affair is finished. The lovers have no economic or any legal relationship. It is based on mutual love affection only. The wiliness of the females is much respected.

Single Mothers

 

The children will grow up with their mother and uncles. They inherit their surnames from their mother. They even don't know who their father is.
Woman is the head of the family. Women are in charge of most works in the society.
These "single mothers" are happy. The uncles play the male part in the family and looking after the boys. Such blood connection may be more stable than the love-based marriage & duty. What a unique but wise arrangement.

Religion and Society

The relationships between the members of the Mosuo large families are very nice. They always look after each other, care and pay respect & priority to the old people, the illness and disabled people.

The Mosuo people's religion is Nature. The Gamu Mountain is their Goddess Mountain. In August "Turn-Mountain Festival", the Mosuo people will come together, climbing the Gamu Mountain to pay their respects.

After dying Mosuo people usually perform cremate. They believe that human has the soul, it has to be freed from the dead body and becoming the "Skirt Soul".
They believe that a child hasn’t had soul yet, hence if a child die, the body has to be buried.

Admission Fee: NY80
Website: http://www.lugulake.cn
Phnone Number: 0755-25666319
Recommended Time for a Visit: One day (we suggest you stay 2 nights there, you can visit the local family, enjoy a fire party)
Traffic: Ninglang interchange daily from the Pakistan-bound Yongning to Lugu Lake, the water in the village alight, fares 20 yuan, 50 yuan per person per tour by boat on the lake heart.
Lodging: to Lugu Lake, the evening may Mosuo villages overnight, the ordinary 30 yuan / person, or places Lugu restaurant, a double standard of 120 yuan / Inter.

                    Tags: Travel in Beijing    Travel in Shanghai