Lige Island in Lugu Lake, Lijiang

Chinese Name:丽江泸沽湖里格半岛
English Name: Lige Island in Lugu Lake, Lijiang
Chinese Pinying: Li Ge Ban Dao
Keywords: Mosuo Family, idyllic scenery, local residences
Location: Lugu Lake scenic area, Ninglang Yi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province
Admission Fee: Free
Opening Hours：All day
Traveling Seasons: Late spring to early winter
Traveling Hours: 8 hours

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About Lige Island in Lugu Lake

 Located on the north side of Lugu Lake, Lige Island is surrounded by water on three sides. There is only a two-meter wide small road bordering to the land in the north of the island. After the road is a white turning hill. Local residents will go into the island from the left of the hill, and then will turn from the hill on the right side of the island.
In addition to some old residence of local residents for hundreds of years, there are several great lake inns with charming and wonderful views on the island. There is a small pier beside the two- meter wide road, which is built by the villagers here for private us. Lige Island is very mysterious in the morning, surrounded by the magical fog. And it looks like a wonderland outside the island.
More than thirty households on the island were all Mosuo families on the early times, which were all matriarchal clans practicing a kind of visiting marriage that men and women do not marry and living together. Grandmother is the highest respected member in the family. The grandmother’s house is the heart of the Mosuo family, where all the guests and visitors are treated. What’s more, there also holds some sacrificial rites.
Until now, some of Mosuo families on the island have had some grandmother’s houses for hundreds of years. If you are interested, you can visit these houses. Every fine night, the villagers will hold “bonfire party”, the only public entertainment in the island, when there is at least one person of each Mosuo family dressed in colorful folk costumes, singing and dancing around the bonfire in the center yard. Visitors who pay for 20 Yuan can also be involved in the livily carnival.

How to get to Lige Island in Lugu Lake

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 Lige Island from Lugu Lake Town.

Take the traveling bus to Daluoshui Village, then give the driver for only 10 Yuan to get to Lige Village.
Take the shuttle bus from Lijiang to Lugu Lake for 73Yuan

Recommended Tour 

2 Days Lijiang Lugu Lake Tour and Matriarchal Society Discovery

Best Time to Visit Lige Island in Lugu Lake

Lige Island in Lugu Lake 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 Lige Island in Lugu Lake 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.