Lugu Lake, a pearl on a plateau

Lugu Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Sichuan province, is called Hsieh na mi (Mother lake) by the locals and, from afar, the 50-square-kilometer lake, which is dotted with islands and surrounded by lush forest, looks like a swallow spreading its wings.

To the northwest of the lake is the magnificent Gammo Mountain, which is worshipped as a goddess, and, to the southeast there is a sea of grass, with plenty of flora and fauna, dense reeds in the shallows waving in the wind, clusters of flowers fluttering in the breeze and beautiful seagulls flying overhead. Young boys and girls walk hand in hand from dawn to dusk in this splendid natural beauty!

Living around the lake are the Mosuo people with their unique matriarchal traditions and females plays the dominant role in the families, which are matrilineal. The children address their father as Abo Ada or Ada.

During courtship, the boy and the girl meet at the bonfire celebration and say a few words of affection for each other. The boy scratches the girl's palm three times, and if the girl responds the same way, a match is made. The boy will then be allowed entry into the girl's room after singing her a love song. The boy must carry three things with him -- a bun (to distract the dog), a sickle (to climb the stairs with), and a hat, which is placed on the windowsill to indicate the girl is taken.

The marriages are based on willingness and neither the man nor the woman can break the bond. The man has no real responsibility, but is disgraced if he decides to end the marriage and can find it difficult to get a new partner.

Lugu Lake is also a land of song and dance. In this place, visitors can't help being moved by the hauntingly beautiful melodies and or the thunderous Jia Cuo dance. Suddenly you see a boat drifting slowly towards you with an attractive young lady waving on the deck, saying "My dear friend, stay please. I will keep you company till the moon sets on the west side of the mountain."