Liwubi Temple

里务比寺

The temple on Liwubi Island is a Yellow Sect Lama Temple, originally built in 1634. It was destroyed in the 1960s due to well-known reasons, a product of feudal superstition. In 1989, at the initiative of Living Buddha Lobsang Yishi, the government funded the project, the local people contributed labor, and the County Tourism Bureau oversaw its reconstruction, which was completed in December 1990. The temple's statues and ritual implements were donated voluntarily by local believers. The temple houses statues of Shakyamuni, Guanyin, the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Buddha, Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, and his two disciples, as well as guardian deities. The statue of Living Buddha Lobsang Yishi was commissioned by Ake Geshe, a high-ranking monk from the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism in Luoshui Village. Above the main entrance is a plaque inscribed with the words "Jade Pool and Jade Tower" in Tibetan, written by Living Buddha Lobsang himself and translated into Chinese by the renowned calligrapher Shangwen. During Tibetan festivals and Buddhist holidays, the Liwubi Monastery Management Committee spearheads large-scale Buddhist ceremonies here. The most grand ceremony, beginning on the second day of the sixth lunar month, is the abstinence and silence ceremony. Believers along the lakeshore, as well as those from Yongning, Labo, Qiansuo, and Zuosuo in Sichuan, voluntarily participate, sometimes numbering over a hundred. During the ceremony, in addition to performing tens or even hundreds of millions of kowtows, participants also practice abstaining from food, drink, and speech, cultivating good moral character. It is said that Liwubi Monastery, despite its small size, was once renowned. Whenever disaster struck the villages surrounding the lake or the world was about to end, divine signs would appear to foretell the arrival of disasters. Miraculous events such as the Buddha statue removing its hat or stepping down from its altar were reported to have occurred here. Consequently, after its reconstruction, the pilgrimage continues, and the incense is even more prosperous.

Introduction

  • Attraction Location: Lugu Lake area, Ninglang County, Yunnan Province, China (云南省宁蒗县泸沽湖地区)

  • History: Liwu Bi Monastery is a Tibetan-Buddhist temple located near the shores of Lugu Lake, traditionally serving the Mosuo people and surrounding communities. It is one of the important spiritual centers in the Lugu Lake region, reflecting centuries of Tibetan and local Naxi-Mosuo influence.
  • Architecture: The monastery features classic Tibetan-style architecture with whitewashed walls, red-timbered roofs, prayer halls, and decorative motifs like Buddhist symbols, statues, and murals depicting religious stories. The main prayer hall often has golden rooftop ornaments and colorful carvings.
  • Cultural Value: The monastery is an active religious site, representing the spiritual life of the Mosuo and Tibetan communities. Visitors can learn about local Buddhist practices, rituals, and festivals. The surrounding area provides insight into the Mosuo matriarchal society and their traditional lifestyles.
  • Other Information: The monastery is set on elevated terrain overlooking Lugu Lake, giving visitors scenic views combined with spiritual ambiance. It is quieter than other tourist spots, offering a more peaceful experience.

Visiting Information

  • Opening Hours: 08:00–17:00

  • Ticket Price: 50 CNY per adult
    25 CNY for students or seniors
  • Best Photo Spots: Front courtyard with Lugu Lake in the background, main prayer hall exterior, hillside viewpoints of the lake, prayer wheels
  • Time Reference: 1–1.5 hours to tour the monastery; 2–3 hours if combining with nearby walking paths along the hill

Where to Sleep (Nearby Hotels & Stays)

  • Luxury: Lugu Lake Banyan Tree Resort (泸沽湖榕树度假酒店)
    Mid-range: Lugu Lake View Hotel (泸沽湖景酒店)
    Budget & Boutique: Local guesthouses in Liwu Village (里务村民宿)
    Homestays near the monastery offering cultural immersion

What & Where to Eat

  • Must-Try Dishes: Mosuo-style grilled fish (摩梭烤鱼), local yak meat dishes, Lugu Lake freshwater fish hotpot, Tibetan butter tea (酥油茶)
    Famous Spots: Liwu Village central eatery (里务村中心小吃店), small family-run Tibetan/Mosuo restaurants near the monastery

What Souvenirs to Buy

  • Handmade Tibetan prayer flags, Mosuo silver jewelry, embroidered cloth, local honey, handcrafted wooden items

Transportation

  • How to Get There:
    From Lugu Lake town center: Taxi, motorcycle, or bicycle (~10–15 min, 4–5 km)
    Hiking trail from Lugu Lake scenic road (~30–40 min walk uphill)
    Private car or shuttle from Ninglang County town (~1.5–2 hours)
    Walking is required within the monastery complex

Nearby Attractions

  • Lugu Lake (泸沽湖) – ~3 km north (accessible via walking path or short drive)
    Liwu Village (里务村) – ~0.5 km (walking)
    Mosuo Culture Museum (摩梭文化博物馆) – ~1.5 km (short drive or walk)

Tips for Visitors

  • Respect local religious customs and avoid loud noises inside the temple Cover shoulders and knees when entering prayer halls Photography is generally allowed outside; ask permission before taking photos of monks or ceremonies Wear comfortable shoes for uphill walking Visit in the morning for softer light and fewer tourists

Recommended itineraries

  • Half-Day Spiritual + Scenic Route: D1: Lugu Lake town (泸沽湖镇) → Liwu Bi Monastery (里务比寺) → Liwu Village (里务村) → Return to Lugu Lake town
  • Full-Day Culture + Nature Route: D1: Lugu Lake Scenic Area (泸沽湖景区) → Liwu Bi Monastery (里务比寺) → Mosuo Culture Museum (摩梭文化博物馆) → Return to hotel in Lugu Lake town
  • Two-Day Immersive Route: D1: Lugu Lake town (泸沽湖镇) → Liwu Bi Monastery (里务比寺) → Overnight at Liwu guesthouse
    D2: Morning walk along Lugu Lake shoreline → Horseback ride or boat ride on Lugu Lake → Return to Ninglang County or Lijiang City

User Reviews

By Zhang Hang |

The temple is nothing compared to the ones in Tibet, but the scenery where the temple is located is beautiful.

By Bobo |

The temple houses statues of Buddha Shakyamuni, Guanyin, Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Buddha, Tsongkhapa, the master of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and his two disciples, as well as guardian deities. The statue of Living Buddha Losang Yisheng was made at the initiative of Ake Geshe, a high monk of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism in Luoshui Village.

By wenson_Wen Ning |

Located on an island in Lugu Lake, it is a Tibetan Buddhist temple.

By Gege V |

It is a popular place for sightseeing and worshiping Buddha. You can go up to observe it, and the boat is waiting at the bottom of the island.

By A small mosquito that can fly |

A small temple on Liwubi Island, nothing special

By NICK |

What interests me is not the temple itself, but the wishing forest next to it, where many small wooden signs are hung, each of which is filled with wishes. Many men and women come here with piety and hope, and write down their most sincere prayers for the people they care about.

By Dream Back to the Three Kingdoms |

The source of Lugu Lake, the sacred island of the Mosuo people, and the vows of lovers.

By SJL |

On Liwubi Island, the view of the lake is quite nice. Please be careful to respect local customs and religion when entering the temple. Do not take photos inside the temple casually.

By Hala |

This island is a small island that the cruise ship will land on, but I personally think this island is just average. There is a Tibetan Buddhist temple on the island, but usually there are no religious believers there. The locals told us that it is best not to go in to worship, but it is okay to visit.

By Merck needs to keep a low profile |

The temple is not big, but the prayer wheels around it are very ritualistic and locals often come here to worship.

By Aime-moi |

Liwubi Temple is the small temple located on Liwubi Island in Lugu Lake. Needless to say,

By Drunk Singing |

On Liwubi Island, it is a point, just walk to it

By Jane Ma's epic poem |

In a blink of an eye, the trees became colorful, the houses became magnificent, and the streams became colorful.

By Lucky Cat ICY |

You can reach Liwubi Temple by taking a pig trough boat. The boatman will wait there for a while and let everyone stroll around for about ten minutes.

By Pianfang cures insomnia |

Nothing to see, just for boating, nothing special here

By yuewong |

To be honest, there is nothing much to see on the island by taking a pig dregs boat, but taking a pig dregs boat is another experience, and the water is very clear and beautiful!

By Lazy Stone |

It's not very big, and since photography is prohibited inside the temple, I didn't look inside. I really like the small flowers planted on the side.

By The sun is warm. |

The island is just okay, it's a kind of religion, I'm not very interested

By Safina |

A small temple with a flat bottom where you can observe the entire lake. It is great for taking photos. There are many wishing boards on the trees opposite.

By SherryLU |

The boat trip on Daluo River goes between the pier and this temple, so when we arrived at the island we went up to take a look, and it was full of local customs.

By Small mushrooms basking in the sun |

The temple is nothing special, just an ordinary temple, but the view overlooking Lugu Lake is pretty good.

By minkou |

Take a pig trough boat to the island near Daluoshui Village in Lugu Lake, where Liwubi Temple, a Tibetan temple, is located.

By One meter of sunshine |

The Tibetan Buddhist temple is located in the center of the island of Lugu Lake. It is very beautiful. The sense of the temple is diluted by the scenery. In the middle of the island, the time to go to the island is limited to 20 minutes, so don't worry. The island is not big, but it is still a bit tight to see everything within the limited time. Boating on Lugu Lake will take you to this Liwubi Island, and then you can go to the island for a tour. Generally, boats will stop here.

By Traveling around the world |

A temple on Liwubi Island, which can usually be seen after taking a boat to the island.

By Love Beauty |

Liwubi Temple is a small Lama temple on Liwubi Island.

By candy |

The small islands where boats stop at Lugu Lake are all covered with prayer flags

By Chu Daxia |

The inside of the temple is very interesting, there are few tourists, it is worth a visit

By Pineapple |

Because of work, I have been to Lugu Lake five times, but every time I passed by here, I just passed by. I didn’t get off the car to look at it. I took a photo in the car.

By Wei and Jin Dynasties |

A very nice place, if you like temples you can go and have a look

By Silly Bear Xinxin |

It is worth taking a boat and going to the island to visit this small temple.

By Heavy rain causes flooding |

A small island in the center of Lugu Lake, slightly larger than Jiangxin Island, offers a round-trip boat ride to experience the beauty of Lugu Lake, experience the water temperature, and see the water lilies. Once you've reached the island, take in the surrounding scenery and you'll be reluctant to leave.

By Miya Maomao |

Very close to ethnic customs, you can enjoy the authentic local culture

By Zhiqin |

The Tibetan Buddhist temple, nestled in the heart of Lugu Lake, is stunning, its ethereal beauty diluted by the scenery. There's a 20-minute limit on the island, so don't worry. It's not a large island, but it's still a bit stressful to see everything within that timeframe. Boating on Lugu Lake will take you to Liwubi Island, where you can explore the island. Boats typically stop here.

There are prayer wheels in the temple. The boatman will also set a time limit for everyone, which is only about half an hour. Therefore, it is impossible to take a slow and detailed tour. You can only take a quick look.

By Small amount 0011 |

Liwubi Temple is a temple on Liwubi Island, belonging to the Yellow Sect Lama Temple

By donny |

When you take a boat tour of Lugu Lake, you can take a look at Liwubi Island when you get there. The scenery is quite nice.

By Little Mago walks the world~ |

Awesome temple! Three elderly men manage Liwupi Island, raising a deer, a black cat, and a flock of chickens. They seem to be living a self-sufficient life! And their rooms have absolutely amazing lake views!

By Tiantian |

There is a temple on Liwubi Island. It costs 50 yuan to go there by boat. There is no entrance fee to the temple.

By CC666 |

Liwubi Temple is located on Liwubi Island in Lugu Lake. You can get there by boat.

By sushi0451 |

This ancient temple was later destroyed and rebuilt in recent years. From Daluoshui, you can find a boatman to take you to Liwubi Island, where the temple is located at its highest point. Nestled against Lugu Lake, the scenery is stunning. This Tibetan Buddhist temple, part of the Yellow Sect, is a must-see. Remember to respect religious customs when visiting. The architecture is quite unique, though the interior is closed to visitors. The temple and island entrance are free, and the boat fare is over 300 yuan per boat, which is more cost-effective for larger groups.

By Dasong is an unlucky guy |

I wasn't very interested in the temple, but after looking at it from the outside, I found it to be a pretty good looking temple.

By Nico Xiaoyi |

Opposite Luoshui Village is a small island with a temple on it. Liwubi Temple means a place where birds sing and flowers bloom.

By icelogo |

A round-trip boat trip from Luoshui Village to Liwubi Island costs 50 yuan per person. The boat stops at Liwubi Island for a stroll. At the summit, you'll find a temple. Liwubi Temple, a Yellow Sect Lama Temple of Tibetan Buddhism, was first built in 1634. It was later destroyed and rebuilt in 1999. The temple houses statues of various Buddhas, including Shakyamuni, Guanyin, the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Buddha, Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, and his two disciples, as well as guardian deities. The temple also houses a statue of Living Buddha Lobsang Yishe, a renowned Gelugpa monk from Luoshui Village. It's recommended to take a boat trip on the lake in the afternoon; on the return trip, you'll be able to watch the sunset, which is a wonderful experience. The boat ride, island hopping, and return trip take about two hours.

By ꧁༺晨༻ ꧂ |

Liwubi Temple is located in the Lugu Lake Scenic Area.

It takes 6-7 hours from Lijiang to Lugu Lake for a small business trip. The one-way fare is RMB 100.

The ticket to Lugu Lake Scenic Area is 100 yuan, and half price with student ID.

Take a pig trough boat from Daluoshui and arrive at Liqinzhuo Island in about 40 minutes. The temple is on the island.

By lee |

Overlooking Lugu Lake at the door, the scenery is really beautiful!

By Shuhe Xiangyangju Inn |

It's worth a visit, especially if you go boating.

By k chick |

To reach this temple, you need to take a boat to a small island. The scenery is pretty good. There were not many tourists at that time.

By masklat |

There was a relic of a living Buddha inside, but we didn’t see it. What a failure!

By Mars User |

It was raining when we arrived, and the island was quiet, with only six of us on our boat. There's a spring and a beach on the other side of the same island as Liwupi Temple, but access to the beach depends on the tide. Because it was raining, the boatman didn't take us there, saying we wouldn't be able to see much and the scenery wouldn't be great. If you want to go, you can ask the boatman to take you to the other side of the island after visiting Liwupi Temple to see the spring. The boatman who rowed us said the main attraction of Liwupi Island and the beach are the spring and the beach, and there's no extra charge for that. The boatman said he would have taken us there if it hadn't been raining heavily, but it did.

By The turbulent katydid |

Arriving here by pig trough boat from the shore of Lugu Lake, you can get up close and personal with the lake, which is truly breathtaking. The water is crystal clear, and you can even see the Lover's Tree, with the elder brother and younger sister flanking it, facing the lake. Climbing to Liwubi Temple and overlooking the entire lake from above is incredibly relaxing!

By Concrete Youth |

There are two options for visiting Lugu Lake: one is to tour around the lake, and the other is to go to Liwubi Temple. Liwubi Temple is a Tibetan temple with a scripture barrel and a scripture pen.

By G&M |

Liwubi Temple is the only temple on Liwubi Island. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from the boat disembarkation point. The temple isn't too large or too small, and it's said to be crowded during local festivals and holidays. Surrounding the temple is a circle of prayer wheels that resemble the ones used by lamas. We visited at noon, so the temple wasn't open, so we could only look from outside, which was a bit disappointing. There were no restaurants nearby, only a small stall selling ethnic goods. (Since the temple is religious and sacred, I didn't take any photos.)

By Calm Night |

This is a Tibetan Buddhist temple on a mountain. First, take a pig trough boat to explore Lugu Lake, then disembark at Liwubi Island and climb a short mountain road to the Liwubi Temple. Walk up to the temple, worship, read the scriptures, and look out at Lugu Lake from afar. It's beautiful!

2012.07 /2022.09

By Brave Child |

Liwubi Island is located in the south-central part of Lugu Lake. Together with the Tubu Peninsula, it divides the lake into two parts and faces Snake Island to the northwest. It takes about half an hour to reach the island from Luoshui Village. A stalagmite on one side of the island serves as a natural pier. A winding path leads directly to the top of the island, flanked by azaleas and wild cherry trees. At the end of the flowerbed is the Tibetan Buddhist Liwubi Monastery, with a white pagoda atop the island. Liwubi Island, along with Shewa'e Island and Lige Island, is known as the Three Penglai Islands of Lugu Lake.

By temperature difference |

It's tiring to climb up by boat. There is a golden barrel on top that you can turn around.

By Fresh summer rain |

Liwubi Island, the largest island on the lake, is home to a temple. Luoshui Village, a community of Tibetan Buddhists, adheres to the Gemu Goddess religion, hence the presence of a lama temple. A waterway connects Liwubi Island and Turtle Island. Legend has it that lovers would walk through the shallows underwater to meet their lover, a truly romantic experience.

By Ruvi |

Compared with the scenery of Lugu Lake, this place seems too ordinary

By 123 |

Liwubi Temple is located on Liwubi Island. It is a small temple with a pagoda. The scenery is pretty good and you can go for a walk.

By Orange, chestnut, pear |

It is mainly used for toilet use. The environment is average and the temple is not very big.

By You lead the way, I'll follow |

The temple is not very big and does not charge admission. You can go for a walk.

By Mr. Dog Who Loves Traveling |

Liwubi Temple should be the first Tibetan Buddhist temple I have visited. The prayer wheels, prayer flags, thangkas, and mani piles constitute my first impression of Tibetan Buddhism.

By footprint |

A small temple on Liwubi Island. Personally, I think all temples are similar and there is nothing special about them.

By YYOMG |

You can take a pig trough boat to visit the island. Liwubi Temple is not very big, but it is very quiet.

By Xiaoyi |

The lake water near the island is colorful. It’s a pity that our camera, which is about to be retired, failed to stand its last shift and failed to capture the gorgeous lake water.

By Helianthus annus |

There are many monks in it, and they are all very pious. It is worth a visit!

By Lele |

There is a Liwubi Temple on the island of Liwubi on the pig trough boat, which should be Tibetan Buddhism.

By Xiaole Jingjia |

We took a boat rowed by local Mosuo people to the island. The temple was very small and old, and it seemed that no one was managing it.

By You are the least precious |

There's nothing much to see, but the things they sell there are very cheap.

By ℡spring° |

The temple is said to have hundreds of years of history, and next to it is the Island Heart Lake, which is very beautiful.

By Meng Xiaoqing |

It was under construction when I went there. It was a beautiful Lama temple near the Walking Marriage Bridge.

By migonghudie |

It's worth a visit to take a pig trough boat to this place built halfway up the mountain.

By The road keeps moving forward |

You can overlook the entire view of Lugu Lake. There is a wishing tree next to the temple where you can make a wish. There are many prayer flags fluttering in the wind. It is worth a visit.

By ✿半兮° ♏ |

When you arrive at Daluoshui, how can you not take a boat tour around the lake? It costs 50 yuan to go directly to Liwubi Island, and it costs 50 yuan to walk around the mountain (optional). Those with special beliefs can go up and take a look. Some people went up in our boat, and some waited at the pavilion at the entrance.

By Walking on the snow |

Liwubi Temple is a small island in the center of Lugu Lake. However, to get to the island, you must take a pig trough boat. The island is very large and half an hour is enough to visit it. There is a temple at the highest point of the island, and you can also look out and see the whole Lugu Lake.

By millet |

It's not far from Caohai. It was quite crowded. My friend went into the temple to make a wish, and when he came back, he found his umbrella was missing. Overall, it wasn't a very good impression.

By A Lin |

The boat driver told me I didn't need to buy a ticket, but there wasn't much to see.


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