LuGu Lake: May Day 2021

As I have now decided to leave Kunming and try somewhere else in China, it is time to tick off the travel bucket list for Yunnan.  

LuGu Lake is on the border between Yunnan and SiChuan. The whole area is a protected national park and so has been closed for ages because of COVID. I flew to the new airport and got a sightseeing bus to the lake. The bus took about an hour and a half as the airport is miles away on the other side of some mountains. At one point we all had to get off the bus, buy tickets and then walk through a ticket gate back to the bus. 

I got dropped off at the first and closest of the towns around the lake and walked to my hotel. I had this place recommended to me by someone from work and wow were they right. My room had a balcony that looked right onto the lake. 

It was the most luxurious and comfortable place, so swanky. I had a giant circular bath that was just lovely, the only problem being that it was so huge it took ages to fill, but it was very worth it. 

The lake has pathways for miles although I don't think they all connect up completely, so I wandered off just keeping the lake on my right and enjoyed the scenery. For the most part everywhere I went was nice and quiet with only a handful of people, but as I went towards the ferry terminal things got busier, especially around sunrise and sunset. 

There's very little to do other than wander about and look at the lake so a few days is more than enough. I spent quite a lot of time either on the balcony or in the bath with my book, a real chill out time. 

I had decided to get the bus back to Lijiang which should have taken about 3 hours. Mine was closer to 4 but with views over the crazy blue/green river like these, I wasn't so fussed. 

Ben explained why the water is this colour but to be honest I can't remember and can't find out, its something to do with the chalk in the water (or something similar), sorry, never was much good at science. 

Even though I was only there for a very short time, I can completely understand how this place has become a bit of an unknown gem. Yes people know about it, but hardly anyone makes the trek through the mountains to go and see it. Hopefully the new airport won't ruin it too quickly.