Passing Through Your World - A Two-Day Retreat at Lugu Lake

After three or four days of intense road tripping, Lugu Lake offers the perfect place to unwind. I booked a lakeside room with a balcony in Daluoshui Village. Waking up to birdsong in the morning, I stepped out onto the balcony railing to take in the view. Mist coiled around the mountain slopes, distant peaks leaving only faint ink-like traces barely visible where water met sky, their boundary already blurred. All that remained in sight was a rich, deep indigo—just a shade darker and it would merge completely with the vast waters. The crisp air was thick with the cool, refreshing scent of damp grass and lakewater, cleansing my lungs. The wooden houses along the shore emerged as hazy silhouettes through the thin veil of mist. With no one around, the world belonged to me alone. I boiled water, placed Tieguanyin tea in a Dehua white porcelain cup, poured it high to skim off the foam, then quickly filtered it into the tea pitcher. Sipping from a small cup, I held my breath and watched as the mist gradually lifted—light emerging from darkness, clarity from turbidity, as if something were about to break free from the drowsy haze and rise gracefully from the water. Business seems tough these days, as most hotels and guesthouses no longer include breakfast. After a light meal of snacks I’d brought along, I headed out to find a mechanic—yesterday evening, while avoiding falling rocks, I’d scraped the car’s undercarriage. The nearest repair shop was near the Walking Marriage Bridge, which actually took me from Yunnan into Sichuan. Once the car was fixed, I decided to visit the bridge. It was crowded, so I parked outside a local shop. A Naxi grandmother told me parking would be free if I returned for lunch at her place; otherwise, it’d cost 10 yuan. Driving around the lake, I noticed tourists flocking to hotspots like Lovers’ Beach, Goddess Bay, Lige Peninsula Viewing Platform, and the Walking Marriage Bridge. The crowds made the experience less enjoyable, especially at Goddess Bay, where unmanaged traffic led to complete gridlock. The so-called "sky mirrors" of Lugu Lake, plastered all over social media, turned out to be nothing more than mirrors placed by boats—a tacky and disappointing sight. In truth, the real magic lies in avoiding these crowded spots. Just find a quiet stretch of lakeshore, sit down, daydream, bask in the sun, chat, or sip tea—that’s the truly heavenly way to spend a perfect day. On the second morning, as vibrant hues painted the lake’s surface like a canvas, lingering clouds parted to reveal a hidden paradise. The beauty wasn’t in the sky’s light, but in the quiet corners illuminated by the heart. Tips: Highly Recommended Spots: 1. Lige Peninsula Viewing Platform 2. Lige Village 3. Mosuo People’s Museum 4. Lakeside Boardwalk in Daluoshui Village at Dusk 5. Any Quiet Lakeside Spot for Daydreaming.