Lugu Lake: Mesmerizing Panoramic Views of the Last Matriarchal Society
China Today (English)|November 2020
SITTING like a precious jewel inlaid in the mysterious frontier of the Sichuan-Yunnan region lies the breathtaking Lugu Lake.
ZHAO YANQING
Lugu Lake: Mesmerizing Panoramic Views of the Last Matriarchal Society

It is one of the highest lying lakes by altitude in China’s interior region. The lake is located at the junction of Yanyuan County, Sichuan Province, and Ninglang County, Yunnan Province. It is also one of the deepest freshwater lakes in China with depths reaching over 70 meters at the deepest point and 40 meters on average.

Unique Walking Marriage Custom

Living along the banks of the Lugu Lake are the descendants of the ancient matriarchal clan-based ethnic group called Mosuo.

The Mosuo people have a population numbering about 50,000 and speak in their own native language which has no written form. The scenery around the Lugu Lake with its unique Mosuo cultural features and natural scenery encompassed by mountains and pristine water is quite famous. The lake has often been referred to as the “Kingdom of Women” due to the Mosuo people’s traditional custom of “walking marriage.” They have maintained the ancient matriarchal family clan model, and as a result have been called “the last rose of the Eastern matriarchal family culture.” This rose is becoming more fragrant and special as time goes by.

This story is from the November 2020 edition of China Today (English).

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This story is from the November 2020 edition of China Today (English).

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