Meet the Great Beauty of China, Feel Poetry and Distance, Walking on the Land of the Motherland Series No. 2 Yunnan Chapter (3) Travel around Lugu Lake, Erhai Lake, and Fuxian Lake

Number of days: 5 days
Time: May
With whom: With friends
Tour kinds: photography, self-driving, humanities, free travel, petty bourgeoisie
Updated: 2025.01.10

Meet the Great Beauty of China, Feel Poetry and Distance, Walking on the Land of the Motherland Series No. 2 Yunnan Chapter (3) Around Lugu Lake, Erhai Lake, Fuxian Lake

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Looking at Lugu Lake from the observation deck

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Overlooking the Rig Peninsula
from the observation deck

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Caohai

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Daluoshui Village Lakeside

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai Lake-Shuanglang-Overlooking Nanzhao Style Island

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang-Sunset

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Gushan Scenic Area

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Sunset

the pearl of the plateau, picturesque scenery -- self-driving tour of Lugu Lake, Erhai Lake and Fuxian Lake in Yunnan

During a self-driving tour in Yunnan in May 2019, I had the opportunity to visit three beautiful lakes in Yunnan, including Lugu Lake, Erhai Lake and Fuxian Lake, to appreciate the magnificence of nature and appreciate the masterpieces of nature in the unique scenery. Along the way, the beautiful and picturesque lakes and mountains are all a feast for the eyes and linger, leaving a beautiful and deep impression.

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Overlooking Lugu Lake
on the Goddess of Gemu Mountain

Sichuan - Yanyuan - Lugu Lake - Caohai

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Rigge Peninsula

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Lover's Tree Scenic Area

Yunnan-Dali-Cangshan-Overlooking Erhai Lake
on Cangshan

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Cherry Blossom Valley Scenic Area

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Gushan Scenic Area

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Luchong Scenic Area

Yunnan has many beautiful lakes and is an important part of its colorful tourism resources. Because it is an inland province, out of yearning for the sea, many lakes will be called "sea". "Erhai Lake" is the most famous of them. Visiting these beautiful lakes, it should be said that a trip around is a great way to feel their charm up close and enjoy their beauty in all directions, and you will definitely not be disappointed. The beautiful lakes and mountains and rustic towns and villages along the way can make you dizzy and stop frequently. At the same time, in the process of traveling, you can not only see the scenic spots along the way, especially some places that are not scenic spots but are more beautiful than scenic spots, but also slow down some of your favorite places, stop anytime and anywhere to enjoy them, and even daze by the lake. The schedule can be long or short, and the pace of the tour can be fast or slow. Therefore, it can be said that traveling around brings out the strengths of self-driving travel to the extreme.

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - View of Lugu Lake
from the observation deck

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Overlooking Lugu Lake
from the Gemu Goddess Mountain

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Overlooking the Rig Peninsula from the observation deck

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Caohai

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang-Yang Liping Sun Palace

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai Lake-lakeside scenery

Yunnan - Chengjiang - Fuxian Lake - Lakeside villas and upscale residential areas

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Gushan Scenic Area

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Luchong Scenic Area

The journey around Lugu Lake is about 100 kilometers, Erhai Lake is about 130 kilometers, and Fuxian Lake is about 140 kilometers. Although it is said to be a tour around the lake, no matter which lake, there will actually be a part of the journey that is not close to the lake. This actual situation does not affect the enjoyment of the beautiful scenery by the lake and the scenic spots along the lake.

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Daluoshui Village
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Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Overlooking Lugu Lake on the Goddess Mountain of Gemu

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Overlooking Lugu Lake
from the observation deck

Yunnan-Dali-Cangshan-Cangshan National Geopark

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang

Lugu Lake is located at the junction of Ninglang County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province and Yanyuan County, Liangzhou, Sichuan, part of the lake is in Yunnan and part is in Sichuan, which is shared by Yunnan and Sichuan. It is 2685 meters above sea level, surrounded by green mountains, the shore of the lake is winding and graceful, there are many beaches, bays and peninsulas along the lake, the scenery is beautiful, the folk customs are simple, the scenery is very charming, like a fairyland on earth, known as the "pearl of the plateau". The Mosuo people living on the lakeside of Yunnan pursue the marriage system of "men do not marry women and do not marry", so Lugu Lake is also known as the "Oriental Daughter Country". The beautiful natural environment and peculiar ethnic customs make this place a famous tourist scenic spot.

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Lugu Lake
from the observation deck

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Daluoshui Village Lake

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-View of Lugu Lake
from the observation deck

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Overlooking Lugu Lake
on the Goddess Mountain of Gemu

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Libai Lover's Beach

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Marriage Bridge

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Caohai

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Lakeside scenery

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Gemu Goddess Mountain Mountaineering Cable Car

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Overlooking Lugu Lake
from the observation deck

Tips

1. Lugu Lake is a place that is well worth staying for a few days. Only by staying here can you leisurely enjoy the lake and mountains, especially the beautiful lake scenery in the morning and evening, relax and feel a different quiet and peaceful.

2. Lugu Lake is suitable for sightseeing all year round, and different seasons have their own beauty. We have been here in different seasons, and each time we are attracted and moved by her beauty, and it is a place that we will want to come back again.

3. There are many inns and homestays along the lake, which is convenient to stay. But holiday accommodation will still be very tight, be sure to book a room in advance, otherwise it will be difficult to find a room. Lakeview houses will be a little expensive on weekdays, and if the price is high during holidays, some will be ridiculously expensive.

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Daluoshui Village Lakeside

Sichuan - Yanyuan - Lugu Lake - Water-based poplar

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Libai Lover's Beach

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Caohai

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Gemu Goddess Mountain Mountaineering Cable Car

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Overlooking Lugu Lake
on the Goddess Mountain of Gemu

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Overlooking the Rig Peninsula
from the observation deck

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Lover's Tree Scenic Area

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Daluoshui Village

4. If it is not a self-driving tour, carpooling or renting a battery car around the lake is a popular way not to be missed, and many inns generally provide battery car rental services. You can also ask the store to help you contact the carpool.

5. There is an observation deck not far from the gate of the scenic spot on the Yunnan side, which is a good place to watch and take panoramic views of Lugu Lake; There is an observation deck on the hillside north of Rig Village along the lake, which is a good location to overlook and photograph the Rig Peninsula; There is a cable car to climb the Goddess Mountain in Nisai Village, and if you have time, you can take the cable car up the Goddess Mountain, and the Lugu Lake seen from the mountain will give people a different feeling.

6. Generally, tourists will go from the direction of Lijiang to Lugu Lake. After continuous renovation and expansion over the years, the road conditions have improved a lot, and the "Lining Eighteen Bends" that had to be passed before have been replaced by newly built roads. The road conditions are good, and the travel time is greatly shortened. From the direction of Yanyuan County, Sichuan Province to Lugu Lake, the road surface is relatively narrow, and there are dozens of kilometers of winding and rugged mountain roads, so be sure to control your speed and drive carefully. But for self-driving tours, the biggest benefit is that you don't have to go back.

Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Overlooking Lugu Lake
on the Goddess Mountain of Gemu

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Yunnan - Ninglang - Lugu Lake - Overlooking the Rig Peninsula
from the observation deck

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Sichuan - Yanyuan - Lugu Lake - Caohai and the Marriage Bridge

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Overlooking Lugu Lake
from the observation deck

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Lover's Tree Scenic Area

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Libai Lover's Beach

Yunnan-Ninglang-Lugu Lake-Overlooking Lugu Lake
from the observation deck

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake

Sichuan-Yanyuan-Lugu Lake-Sculpture

Erhai Lake is located on the east side of the ancient city of Dali, Dali City, Dali Prefecture, at the foot of the verdant Cangshan Mountain, the lake is blue, famous for the beautiful scenery of the mountains and rivers and unique villages and towns, and is one of the four famous scenery of Dali "the wind of Xiaguan, the flowers of Shangguan, the snow of Cangshan, and the moon of Erhai Lake". Although Erhai Lake is called the sea, it is actually the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan, with an area of more than 250 square kilometers, in a narrow shape, and is said to be named "Erhai Lake" because it is shaped like an ear.

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Lakeside Scenery

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Xiaoputuo

Yunnan-Dali-Xizhou Ancient Town

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Sunset

Tips

1. Like visiting Lugu Lake, Erhai Lake is also a place worth visiting many times and should stay for a few days, and it is suitable for all seasons.

2. There are many beautiful scenery around Erhai Lake, and traveling around Erhai Lake is almost equivalent to visiting the entire Dali. Among them, it will take a lot of time to visit only Cangshan, Dali Ancient City, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Chongsheng Temple Three Pagoda Park and other major scenic spots, so pay attention to this in the time arrangement and try to do as much as possible.

3. If possible, try to choose to live by the lake, such as the Shuanglang area on the east bank, so that you can enjoy the beautiful lake view anytime and anywhere, but the price of accommodation will be relatively high. If you want to live well and economically, you can also choose some less famous towns along the lake, because there are fewer tourists and more peaceful, and the housing price will be much lower.

4. If you like the excitement, you can choose to live in the ancient city of Dali, where there are many places to play. At night, the ancient city is brightly lit, people, bustling and fun.

Yunnan - Dali - Cangshan - Overlooking Erhai Lake
on Cangshan

Yunnan - Dali - Cangshan - Cangshan National Geopark

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang-Yang Liping Sun Palace

Yunnan-Dali-Dali Ancient City-Erhai Gate

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Xiaoputuo

Yunnan-Dali-Xizhou Ancient Town

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai Lake-lakeside scenery

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Sunset

Yunnan-Dali-Erhai-Shuanglang-Lakeside B&B

Fuxian Lake is located 5 kilometers south of Chengjiang County, Yuxi City, only more than 60 kilometers away from Kunming, and is regarded as the back garden of Kunming people. Although Fuxian Lake is not as famous as Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake, it is a deep-water freshwater lake in China, equivalent to 12 Dianchi Lakes and 6 times the size of Erhai Lake. You can enjoy the crystal clear water, and it is no exaggeration to describe it as a "realm of the sky". Fuxian Lake has several small scenic spots along the lake, you can go to the lake for a walk to enjoy the natural scenery, or you can enter the scenic spots to play.

Yunnan - Chengjiang - Fuxian Lake - Cherry Blossom Valley Scenic Area

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Luchong Scenic Area

Yunnan - Chengjiang - Fuxian Lake - Gushan Scenic Area - Overlooking Gushan

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Gushan Scenic Area

Yunnan - Chengjiang - Fuxian Lake - Lakeside scenery

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-Wanxia

Tips

1. Fuxian Lake can only be regarded as a niche attraction in Yunnan. There are really too many beautiful lakes in Yunnan, so many people will ignore Fuxian Lake, in fact, the area of Fuxian Lake is still quite large, and the scenery of Fuxian Lake is also very good.

2. Fuxian Lake International Tourism Resort is located on the east bank of Fuxian Lake, which is a high-end attraction that integrates sightseeing, accommodation and leisure, and is also a better place to go around Fuxian Lake.

3. The Chengjiang River, where Fuxian Lake is located, has no scorching heat in summer and no severe cold in winter, and is suitable for playing most of the year, which is more suitable for vacation. There are many water play projects in the lakeside attractions, especially suitable for summer play, if you have children, you will definitely have a lot of fun and have fun.

Yunnan-Chengjiang-Fuxian Lake-International Tourism Resort