Lugu Lake (瀘沽湖) is situated in the Sichuan-Yunnan provincial border, about 300 kilometers northeast of Lijiang, at the altitude of 2600m. The area is inhabited by the Mosuo tribe (摩梭族), a branch of the Naxi tribe (纳西族). Lugu Lake has the nickname of “Women’s Kingdom” (女兒國) as it is one of the few matriarchies which still exist in China today.
In Mosuo tribe, there is neither economic nor legal binding between man and woman. The Mosuo women are the master of the family and their husbands are more like occasional visitors of the family. Both men and women continue to live with in their mother’s home even when they have children.
Sex appeals. Today, Lugu Lake has become a chic tourist destination. Many tourists are attracted by Mosuo culture and custom, especially the custom called “Walking Marriage” (走婚習俗), which is probably the most famous, yet most misunderstood aspect of Mosuo culture.
Here I found a good page describing the culture of the Naxi tribe and Mosuo tribe describing the culture of the Naxi tribe and Mosuo tribe. It doesn’t only talk about the traditional customs, but also how are they affected by the modern world today. Sorry, it’s only in Chinese.
And here is a pretty good video on youtube about the Mosuo tribe, narrated in English.
Mosuo Women - YouTube
