Gemu Goddess Mountain in Lugu Lake, Lijiang

Overview about Gemu Mountain

Gemu Mountain, also known as the Lion Mountain, is a well- known holy mountain of Mosuo people located at Lugu Lake. The mountain is very majestic with the peak almost sticking in the sky. The local people believed that this mountain is the physical transformation of the goddess Gemu. Every 25th of July of the lunar calendar, there will be a Mountain-Circling festival in this place where the locals also come to worship the goddess Gemu. Stepping on the mountain top, tourists can overlook Lige Island stretching from the northeast into the lake, which is like a golden otters fishing, or a dragon chasing pearl in the lake.
Gemu Mountain is high in the north and low in the south. It is distinct in the gray color, but when covered with the vegetation, it appears green. Gemu Mountain has been worshipped by the locals of Lugu Lake for thousands of years, and the Lugu Lake is a highlight of lugu lake tourism.
American scholar Joseph Rock, in his book Southwest China Ancient Naxi Kingdom, he once described: “Lion Rock is the most significant in Yongning sceneries. This mountain is actually like a sleeping lion with his head facing the lake, his claws tilting the transverse ridge. He is resting in the green lake.”

Main Attractions

The Gemu cave is located at “the neck of the Lion”, with an altitude of 3,450 meters. Entering into the cave, visitors can see the grotesque and gaudy stone stalactites reflected in the colored dim lights. After climbing a few steps, travelers can view the whole appearance of Gemu Mountain. Gemu Goddess not only lives in the heart of the Mosuo people, but also in the cave vividly.
There are some offerings provided by the local people to Gemu Goddess at the entrance of the cave. The entrance is composed of very narrow stone crevices, only big enough for one to crawl into, as if it were preventing some unqualified people from entering. After the entrance, visitors can see that the cave is big enough to accommodate at least thousands of people unexpectedly. Within sit several natural statues of the "goddess".
Overlooking Lugu Lake from the mountain, visitors can enjoy the amazing scenery of Lige Island, the Snake Island as well as the enchanting view of the well-arranged small villages at the foot of the mountain. In the distance, the mountain ranges in the mist are dressing on the cloth of misty cloud, and displaying its graceful charm.

Festivals and Activities

The Chaoshan Festival also called Mountain-Circling Festival, is held every 25 lunar July 25th in the bank of Lugu Lake. It is a very grand festival for the Mosuo People in Lijiang YongNing Township to worship Gemu Goddess. It is also a festival rich in the primitive religious color with over one thousand years’ history.
The goddess Gemu, according to Dongba mythology, ensures happiness for her people, providing them with cattle and livestock in abundance, and with a cornucopia of crops to harvest. Accordingly, on the 15th of July each year, the Naxi gather at the foot of Gemu Mountain to worship the goddess.
On this day, people will dress in splendid festival costumes, bringing with abundant delicious food to worship Gemu Goddess. Some people will ride a horse to Gemu Mountain. The Lama will chant Chaoshan Classics in the misty incense to pray for the goddess protection of the Mosuo people. The olds also burn branches in the cave to drive away the evil spirits with fireworks. What’s more, everyone will take a bath in the waterfall, so that they will be safe and sound. Then, they will have a picnic and do some activities such as singing, lion dancing, swinging, archery, and horse racing.

How to get to Gemu Mountain

First, you need to get to Lugu Lake.

Lugu Lake is located on the border of Yunnan and Sichuan, so travelers can visit Lugu Lake from Yunnan or from Sichuan. At present, there are three highway leading to Lugu Lake, one is from Xichang (Sichuan) to Lugu Lake for 258 kilometers, one is from Panzhihua to Lugu Lake for 220 kilometers and the third is from Lijiang to Lugu Lake for 230 kilometers.

Luguhu Airport, opended in October 2015, has limited flights from/to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. The airport is about 25 kilometers from Lugu Lake with airport shuttle linked each other.

1. From Lijiang:
1) Transport Service Center Bus Station to Daluoshui Village:
Departure Time: 09:00, 10:00.
Ticket Price: CNY 65
Duration: around 7 hours
2) Take tourist bus arranged by local travel agencies:
Departure Time: unfixed
Ticket Price: CNY 140 to 200 for a round-trip
Duration: around 7 hours
Notice:
1). Departure time is changeable. Usually, the bus driver informs the tourists of departure time and pick-up location in advance.
2). Most hostels help their guests to book the bus tickets. Visitors can ask the hostel owners if they provide this service. The reservation should be made one day in advance.
3). Visitors who take tourist bus might be arranged to go shopping, visit a Mosuo family, go boating or take part in a bonfire party. Undoubtedly, they need to pay extra money for these activities.

2. From Xichang, Sichuan Province: 
1). Take regular bus from Xichang Tourist Transport Center Bus Station to Lugu LakeTown (also called Zuosuo Town).
Departure Time: 08:10, 09:30
Ticket Price: CNY 95
Duration: 7 to 8 hours
2). Take regular bus from Xichang to Yanyuan, change bus to Zuosuo Town.

Notice:
1). Lugu lake is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Lugu Lake Town. After arriving in the town, visitors need to charter a car to reach the village where they plan to stay. The fare is around CNY 20 to 40.
2). Bus schedules and ticket prices might be adjusted without prior notice.
3). Extra buses from Xichang to Lugu Lake Town will be provided during the high season (May to October).
4). Visitors are suggested to buy return bus tickets upon arrival in case the tickets are sold out quickly.

People can Gemu Mountain from Lugu Lake Town.

Recommended Tour 

2 Days Lijiang Lugu Lake Tour and Matriarchal Society Discovery

Best Time to Visit Gemu Mountain

Gemu Mountain is surprising beautiful place which can be visited all year round. Flowers are blossom in different season, presenting you a charming painting scenery. The best time to visit Gemu Mountain is from March to November and as for photographers, come from March to May and September to October that you will shoot brilliant pictures.

Spring: it is a land of idyllic beauty – emerald lake like a clear mirror with the surrounding peach flowers and pear flowers blossom happily, mountains reflecting in water, boats sailing quietly on the tranquil lake…
Summer: it is a summer resort – pleasant and cool weather with gentle breezes blowing, mist floating in the midair after rainy, azalea in pink and white blossom in the mountain…
Autumn: it is a fairyland as beautiful as Jiuzhaigou – the surrounded mountains turn into a red and golden world with leaves changing, the glittering lake, the gorgeous sunglow, geese chirping in the sky that you can image how beautiful the scene is.
Winter: it is a world of waterfowl – different kinds of wild ducks playing on the water.

If you interested in the grandest festival of Mosuo people, come to the lunar July 25 that you can see Mosuo people dressed in traditional festival to pay a worship to Gemu Goddess Mountain.

Luguhu Lake Accommodation

In the Lugu Lake tourist area, there are more than 400 hotels and rooms ranging from inns and guesthouses to five-star hotels. The accommodations are mainly located in Caohai village, Dazshui village, Sanjia village, Lige village and Dazui village. If you have a fixed budget, it is recommended to live in local dwellings and experience local Mosuo’s customs. Here we list some of the accommodations for your reference.

Useful Travel Tips

1. What to Pack

Lugu Lake is situated at 2690 meters high and ultraviolet ray is strong. The lowest temperature is 4 ℃ and the highest temperature is around 19 ℃ and the rainy months are from June to August. Sun-blocking scream and sunglasses are needed in four seasons. When visit in Summer, bring a light jacket and umbrella.

2. Accommodation

You are guaranteed to enjoy comfortable stay when visiting Lugu Lake. You can choose your accommodation from luxury hotels to budget but featured hostels. All the hotels and hostels are facing with Lugu Lake which means you can enjoy the lake scenery on the deck or in your room.

3. Food & Dining

Muosuo people offers you good meal and fine wine. You can try Preserved Pork, Roast Fish and Suluma Wine (low alcohol, taste sour and sweet with faint scent).

4.Be cautious about the “visiting marriage”

Know the rules and customs about “visiting marriage” and think again when someone shows his affection to you.