A Spontaneous Road Trip to Lugu Lake: A Dog's-Eye View of a Spring Festival Adventure

Prologue: A Canine's "Peak Life" Plan

On the morning of the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, before the sun had fully climbed over the windowsill, I was rudely dragged from my warm bed by a pair of merciless hands. Yes, I'm a dog named Du. I love my humans, I love sleeping, and I love marking my territory in the grass. But today, my two humans—Tu and Awei—had the audacity to sit me down for a serious discussion about my "contributions to dog-kind."

"Du," Tu said, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "look at you. All you do is sit by the fire, sleep, and go for walks. What else can you do? How about... you write the travelogue for our Lugu Lake trip?"

I froze on the spot. Have you ever seen a dog write a travelogue? No? Neither have I. But when I saw Awei dangling my favorite milk treats in front of me with that sly smile, I made my decision—for the treats, for canine glory, I'd do it!

And so, this travelogue of our Lugu Lake road trip, penned by a dog, was born. Woof!

Before the Trip: The Packing List for Humans and Dogs

Lugu Lake: A Paradise for All Seasons

Lugu Lake is a magical place. In spring, peach and pear trees burst into bloom, painting the mountains in seas of flowers. In summer, mist swirls after rain, making the whole place feel like a fairy tale. Autumn brings golden leaves carpeting the ground—"a lone wild duck flies with the sunset glow, and the autumn river shares the same hue with the sky," as the old poem goes. And in winter, the sky is crystal clear, and red-billed gulls fly all the way from Siberia—the perfect time to get up close with them. In short: go whenever you want.

My Luggage, My Territory

As a refined dog, my travel gear must be complete: dog food, bowls, leash, a car safety harness designed for canines, a water dispenser, my bed... As for the humans' stuff? That's their problem.

Tu and Awei were more practical: thick jackets were a must. The temperature difference between day and night at Lugu Lake is huge. Spring clothes work during the day, but the wind is strong enough to blow off an ordinary hat. Thick wool beanies, tested and proven effective. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hats—the sun at high altitude is no joke, or you'll end up looking like Awei, tanned like he just came back from Africa.

The "Life-and-Death Test" Before the Drive

Starting from Deyang in Sichuan Province, the one-way trip was 753.8 kilometers. Over 500 kilometers were on expressways, passing through the Beijing-Kunming Expressway, Chengdu's Second Ring Road, the Chengdu-Wenjiang-Qionglai Expressway, the Qionglai-Mingshan Expressway, the Chengdu-Ya'an Expressway, and the Ya'an-Xichang Expressway, before finally turning onto Provincial Road 307 at Xichang. The remaining 200-plus kilometers were all winding mountain roads.

Important reminder: Lugu Lake sits deep in the mountains. No matter if you're coming from Lijiang, Xichang, or Shangri-La, you'll have to drive over 200 kilometers of mountain roads. The road surface is decent, but you'll face a nonstop series of sharp turns, hairpin bends, cliffside sections, and rockfall zones. In winter, there might be ice patches; in summer, mudslides. If you get carsick, make sure to bring medicine. Novice drivers, don't show off. Even experienced drivers should slow down and keep a firm grip on the wheel.

The Niba Mountain Tunnel on the Ya'an-Xichang Expressway deserves a mention—it's over 10 kilometers long, the longest road tunnel in Sichuan Province. Its magic lies in this: at the entrance, the mountain is shrouded in mist, but at the exit, it's a blazing highland sun—a completely different sky just ten kilometers apart. And the "Sky-Climbing Slope" on Provincial Road 307 will send your adrenaline through the roof—after navigating those hairpin turns, you'll absolutely feel like you're possessed by the spirit of a mountain racing champion.

Arriving at Lugu Lake: From Traffic Jam to "Wow"

One Night in Xichang, Traffic Jam to Heartbreak

On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, my two humans got up early and loaded all my belongings into the car. At that moment, I got a little nervous—were we going on a trip, or were they selling me?

We spent the whole day on the road. I took several naps in the back seat, and every time I woke up, the scenery outside was different: from city to farmland, then to hills and mountains. Finally, as the sun was setting, the car stopped. I was thrilled—we'd arrived! The air was fresh, a gentle breeze brushed my face, and my perfectly floofed fur danced in the wind. Bliss!

But then Awei said, "This is called a traffic jam. We're still far from our destination. We'll stay in Xichang for the night." Staring at the endless line of cars, I fell into deep thought: the human world is truly hard to understand.

Nothing much happened in Xichang that night. We'd hoped to catch the sunset at Qionghai Lake, but the traffic jam meant we didn't arrive until after dark.

Eighteen Bends in the Mountain Road, Carsickness Is No Joke

The next day, we entered the mountain roads. Awei, exhausted from the previous day, completely gave in—his carsickness flared up again. After an emergency stop on the roadside, the entire mountain route was taken over by Tu, a novice driver. I sat in the back seat, thinking to myself: This car isn't even as fast as I can run! Oh well, time to sleep.

After a few more naps, I woke up to Tu yelling excitedly: "Wow, the Sky-Climbing Slope! Look at these hairpin turns, I'm going to fly!" Awei sat silently in the passenger seat, watching her show off.

Later, Awei bought some medicine at a small mountain town, drank it, and was miraculously revived. For the second half of the journey, he floored the accelerator, and we finally arrived at Lugu Lake just before sunset.

First Glimpse of Lugu Lake: One Big "Water Puddle"

We stayed at a guesthouse on the lakeside road in Dazhu Village. After dropping off our luggage, the two of them took me for a walk by the lake. When I first saw Lugu Lake, even with my extensive life experience as a dog, I'd never seen such a huge "water puddle"! I quickly had Awei put me on a motorboat to take my first handsome photo. Back home, I'd have something to brag about to that stay-at-home cat—after all, I'm a little gentleman with stories to tell.

(Serious disclaimer: Even though I'm wearing a pearl necklace, I'm a straight male dog. Tu made it for me with her own hands. She said it not only helps me locate her by sound but also prevents me from getting lost.)

First Spin Around the Lake: A Canine's "Peak Life"

Sunshine, Porridge, and "Handsome Photos"

We slept until the sun was high in the sky. The two of them were full of energy and spring in their steps. Only I was a bit sleepy, because I'd been arguing with a rooster at 5:30 in the morning. Awei put me on the balcony to bask in the sun—ah, so comfortable, even better than the fireplace at home!

Near the guesthouse, there was a place offering a porridge set for 10 yuan per person: unlimited refills of porridge, one steamed bun, a bowl of pickled vegetables, and one egg. I devoured the yolks of two eggs. What can I say? My humans love me that much. It's almost too much for a dog to handle.

Luyuan Cliff: The Cold at High Altitude

We parked near the Luyuan Cliff viewing platform. Awei let me loose in a wide open space to play. I cautiously poked my head out—it was so high, one wrong step and I'd be a goner! Tu kept giving orders: "Take a picture of me like this! Now like that!" You'll get used to it.

Lots of people were watching me, all saying I was "such a good boy." Come on, I'm a grown dog. Don't use such childish words to describe me. My serious expression in the face of this magnificent scenery is what truly suits the moment.

Awei laughed: "Oh please, you just freeze up whenever people look at you."

Prayer Flags and Mani Stones: Colors of Faith

The two of them took endless photos in front of the prayer flags. I went over to see what they were doing—don't lose me, you'd be heartbroken without me.

Awei yelled: "Look at the camera! Over here!"

Tu yelled: "Ah, my tooth hurts!"

Me: "Huh? What's that?"

Perfect synchronization, right?

Those colorful prayer flags fluttered in the sunlight, bright and beautiful. Wait, why did I say "colorful"? I'm colorblind! Awei told me those stone piles are called mani stones. The Mosuo people follow Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the teachings of the Daba religion, which reveres nature—the mother lake, sacred mountains, and ancestors.

Lakeside Shallows: Drinking from the Lake, Dreaming on Boats

We stopped at another lakeside shallow area to let me out. Getting close to the water, I finally understood why they chose this lake for our trip—truly visionary. The lake water was cool and refreshing on my little paws. I closed my eyes and felt the lakeside breeze, the sunlight sparkling like diamonds on the water—almost blinding my doggy eyes.

Tu said: "Nestled deep in the mountains, Lugu Lake was once a place cut off from the outside world. The Mosuo people live by the lake, and the pig-trough boat (a traditional dugout canoe) was their only means of transportation. They used these boats for fishing and working, and also for romance. Tomorrow, we'll take Du for a boat ride around the lake, to find that blend of practicality and romance these boats represent."

I barked in response, expressing my excitement.

Then I drank my fill of the lake water—sweet and clear, much better than the water I brought myself. Though, Awei seemed to have "forgotten" my water dispenser. Was that on purpose?

Xiaoluoshui: Black Pigs and Pastoral Scenes

Xiaoluoshui is a village, and the wind there was incredibly strong. There were also lots of black pigs following behind me, running into ditches to eat dirt. Scary stuff. At least they didn't chase me. I made sure to stay close to my humans.

The sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking, the crisscrossing paths between fields—this is the pastoral life many city dwellers dream of. But personally, I still prefer being a city dog, traveling around with my humans.

Gemu Goddess Mountain: King of the Cable Car

After lunch, the two of them decided to go up Gemu Goddess Mountain. Tu looked it up on Baidu and learned: Legend has it that there were no mountains around Lugu Lake originally. The Gemu goddess and her male mountain god friends used to fly from the north every night to bathe and court in the lake. One night, the rooster crowed at dawn, and they couldn't fly back. Gemu was stranded by Lugu Lake and turned into the Goddess Mountain. This mountain is a sacred site for the Mosuo people, with its highest point over 3,700 meters above sea level. Where we were was only about 2,900 meters—meaning we had to take a cable car up about 800 meters.

I'm afraid of nothing in the world, except maybe heights. I immediately said: "You guys go ahead. I'll watch the car."

Awei: "Don't even try. The car is in the parking lot, it'll be fine."

Tu: "I just asked the staff. Dogs are allowed on the cable car, and they ride for free."

What? Dog? Who's a dog? Where?

In the end, I was still captured, put on the sliding car, and then onto the cable car. But to my surprise, once I got on, it was actually pretty thrilling! Turns out I'm not a dog who's afraid of heights after all. In Awei's arms, holding me tight, I felt incredibly safe. The mountain wind blew in gusts, and watching things that used to be taller than me shrink to the size of ants—it was a truly unique experience.

Along the way, people on the opposite cable car looked at me and exclaimed: "Look, a dog came up too!" I just took it in stride. After all, not many dogs have seen as much of the world as I have.

On the Mountain: Monkeys, Wishing Plaques, and a "Seven-Tenths Profile"

On the mountain, I also encountered a creature I'd never seen before—monkeys. Awei kept protecting me, worried I might be attacked. But honestly, I wasn't scared at all. I even wanted to charge forward and protect them.

At the top, they sold wishing plaques, and the cave entrance was covered with tightly packed wishes. The staff reminded everyone that the altitude was high, so we should rest well before continuing.

On the way down, the two of them saw a commemorative photo of me looking obedient and handsome—a seven-tenths profile that melted their hearts. They spent 15 yuan to buy it!

The view on the way down was even more amazing. The feeling of swooping downward made me want to howl with joy.

Zouhun Bridge: Strong Wind, Crowds, and Flying Hats

Next stop: Zouhun Bridge (the "Walking Marriage Bridge") in the Great Grass Lake. This bridge is a symbol of the Mosuo people's matriarchal marriage system—where couples who are in love maintain their relationship and raise children through the man "walking" to the woman's home.

Other than the chatter of tourists, the most common sound here was the wailing of people whose hats had been blown off. Don't believe me? Look, there's a fresh cowboy hat floating in the water.

As a noble dog, I naturally maintained my dignity. An uncle asked Tu: "Your dog is so cute, can I take a few pictures?" Tu happily agreed. But I don't like being photographed by strangers—I just wouldn't look at the camera. My humans always say I'm "aloof Du," but really, my love is limited. Loving my humans is enough.

Goddess Bay: A Sunset Masterpiece

As sunset approached, the two of them got excited and rushed to Goddess Bay. By the time we arrived, the sun was just beginning to sink. We could only park halfway down the hill and walk; only a few high-powered vehicles could make it to the bottom. The terrain here was low and sloping, forming a crescent-shaped bay facing directly toward the sunset—perfect for backlit photos.

I climbed onto a pig-trough boat with Tu for a dreamy backlit shot. Countless pig-trough boats were scattered casually across the lake, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, each one brimming with story.

As dusk fell, the sky turned orange-red. In that moment, I understood—why humans are willing to travel across thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, just for a single glance.

Practical Tips: Must-Knows for Road Tripping with Dogs and Family

Expense Breakdown (Two People, One Dog, Spring Festival Period)

Accommodation Tips

Bringing dogs and families to Lugu Lake is very common, and most guesthouses allow pets. We stayed at the Bense Boutique Guesthouse in Dazhu Village, 183 yuan per night. It was lakeside, had convenient parking, plenty of hot water, and electric blankets. Downsides: it was on the road and quite noisy, the wooden structure had poor soundproofing, and the beds were rock hard.

If you're driving, you can stay anywhere—you'll be circling the lake anyway. Less popular spots like Xiaoluoshui and Dazhu Village offer better prices and more peace and quiet.

Food Pitfalls

Honestly, the food at Lugu Lake isn't great. You can get a full meal for about 40 yuan per person. Some restaurants also charge a seat fee, 4-5 yuan per person. The Lugu Lake Town, closest to the main gate, actually has the best food and doesn't charge a seat fee—probably because it's farther from the lake and less crowded.

Photography Tips

Best Vantage Points: 1. Luyuan Cliff Viewing Platform—overlooks the entire Bright Lake 2. Zhudi Pass—the best angle for viewing Lige Peninsula 3. Gemu Goddess Mountain—take the cable car up for a panoramic view of the entire Lugu Lake 4. Southern end of Zouhun Bridge viewing platform—see the full length of the bridge 5. Altar Platform—view the northern Bright Lake and gaze at Gemu Goddess Mountain in the distance

Best Times: - Sunrise: Winter, around 8 a.m. Any lakeside guesthouse will do - Sunset: Winter, around 6 p.m. The best spot is Goddess Bay—shoot backlit silhouettes for maximum effect

Epilogue: Peak Dog Life, Nothing More

After returning from Lugu Lake, I slept for three straight days. Tu and Awei said I did an amazing job this time and that they'd take me to even more places in the future.

I think this is what peak dog life is all about—having humans who love you, taking spontaneous road trips, seeing endless scenery, and writing endless travelogues.

Woof! Woo-woo-wooo-oooooo!

(The End)