Eight Little Details of a Trip with Your Bestie | A Three-Day November Getaway to Lugu Lake

A few idle days at the end of the year feel like stolen time, always stirring a restless itch. I had originally planned to go to Yunnan with my partner "Mr. Juice" to simply "lie flat"—to throw myself into the lazy sunshine, thinking about nothing, doing nothing. But he was swamped with work at year-end, not even a moment to catch his breath. While browsing a travel guide to the Lijiang area written by my friend "Maimai's Mom," the seed of wanderlust in my heart instantly sprouted. Go alone? That would be a bit lonely. On a whim, I dropped a message in my bestie group chat: "Lugu Lake, anyone in?" The result? Three of us agreed in an instant, not even bothering to find an excuse—it was a straight-up "group escape."

We chose Lugu Lake for simple reasons: first, the reality show Dear Inn made it a hot spot; second, the lake water in photos looked an impossibly vivid blue; and third—who wouldn't want to stumble into a romantic encounter in the legendary "Kingdom of Women"? In our five-day, four-night trip, we spent three days and three nights at Lugu Lake. Not too long, not too short—just right. And this journey taught me one thing deeply: when traveling with your besties, the most beautiful scenery is never the mountains and lakes, but the默契 (unspoken understanding) and laughter hidden in the little details.

1. Princesses at Home, Wonder Women on the Road

Before we left, we divided tasks clearly: I was in charge of booking hotels and taking photos along the way; Tingting handled the flights and road-trip snacks; while Peipei quietly prepared a fabulous wardrobe and a full set of skincare products. As the trip initiator, I fancied myself a "travel expert," thinking these two 1.7-meter-tall princesses would probably be high-maintenance, so I planned the itinerary to be gentle. What happened? Once we hit the road, they instantly transformed into "Wonder Women," and I ended up being the one taken care of.

Tingting is a military veteran, sharp and efficient. Her backpack was stuffed with everything you'd need for a "spring outing"—from wet wipes to emergency meds, from power banks to little snacks. She was like a "celebrity assistant," ready to hand you anything you wanted at a moment's notice. Peipei, on the other hand, perfectly played the "celebrity" role, responsible for smiling beautifully in front of the camera, while I, the "photographer," could only trail behind shouting, "One more shot!"

2. Even a Weakling Has Nothing to Fear, Because You'll Be Cured in No Time

We flew from Wuhan to Kunming, then transferred to Ninglang Lugu Lake Airport. The airport opened at the end of 2015 and has only one route—a round trip from Kunming. But compared to taking a four- or five-hour drive from Lijiang, flying takes just an hour, saving time and energy. Unfortunately, I "crashed"—I hadn't slept well on the late-night flight, got too excited on the plane the next morning, and by the time we hit the mountain roads from the airport to Lige Island, I started throwing up violently.

Lugu Lake Airport is built on a mountaintop. When the plane landed, I half-expected us to go tunneling through the peaks. The drive from the airport to the scenic area took over an hour on winding mountain roads. I was dizzy and nauseous, my stomach churning. By the time the car stopped at the viewpoint and I gazed out at Lugu Lake, I couldn't hold it in anymore and threw up. The girls laughed helplessly, and I called myself a "weakling." But the altitude at Lugu Lake is only 2,600 meters—how could I have altitude sickness? I still haven't figured it out.

On the first afternoon, I was completely "done for." I lay on the sun-drenched tatami bed in our hotel and slept the entire afternoon. Only after sunset, when Tingting and Peipei returned, did I manage to sit up. Just as I was worrying about holding everyone back, Mr. Juice sent me an animated short—a Chongqing-dialect version of Peppa Pig. I laughed so hard I was sweating and crying, and instantly bounced back. See? Healing can be that simple sometimes.

3. Sunrise on the Lake: Hands Numb from Cold, But I Couldn't Put Down the Camera

At seven the next morning, I woke up naturally. I pulled back the curtains—it was still pitch black outside. I decisively dressed and went out to see the sunrise, not having the heart to wake the still-sleeping girls. The early morning at Lugu Lake was bitingly cold. I followed a handful of people to the Lige Pier. A few local women in ethnic costumes were calling out, offering boat rides to the island for sunrise. I didn't hesitate—I got on.

At 7:30, the eastern sky showed a pale fish-belly white. The boatwoman, unhurried, said, "No rush. If you get there too early, you'll just sit around in the cold." I didn't pay much attention at first, until the frost on the seat melted and icy water seeped into my pants—then I understood her concern. As the boat rowed toward the center of the lake, a layer of advection fog suddenly rose from the water. I drifted through the mist, feeling like I had stepped into a painting. Seagulls spotted our boat and knew it was "breakfast time." Fellow passengers tossed out small crackers, and the gulls swarmed around with cheerful cries. I had only wanted to quietly capture the sunrise colors, but these little creatures threw me into delightful chaos. My hands and nose were numb from cold, but I still couldn't bear to put down my camera.

4. Camera in Hand, Can't Stop Posing

After watching the sunrise, I returned to the room to find the girls already washed up. Day two's plan was to rent a car and circle the lake with two other guys and two girls from the same hotel. We were supposed to gather at 10:30, but we three were still fussing over our looks—after all, when you go out to take photos, you have to look fabulous.

Our route started from Lige, heading north across the Yunnan border into Sichuan. We passed by Goddess Mountain and Princess Island, rowed a boat through the Grass Sea to visit Dear Inn, and finally watched the sunset at Goddess Bay. Our driver was a local with incredible skills—he navigated the mountain roads as if they were flat ground—and he kept up a running commentary on local customs, even helping us haggle with the boat captains. Five-plus hours later, we felt fulfilled and relaxed.

Our first stop was the Lige Island viewpoint. Tingting and Peipei immediately found an auntie braiding colorful hair strands and got themselves new looks. Since I have short hair, I skipped that step and quickly used Lige Island and Lugu Lake as a backdrop to take their "official photos." It's hard to take an ugly photo at Lugu Lake. During the day, the sunlight is abundant, the air is fresh, the lake water is crystal clear, and the distant mountains stretch like an ink painting. We laughed unpretentiously at the camera, as if we had tossed all the city's tension into the lake.

5. Bestie Secrets Turn into Jokes We'll Laugh About for Ten Years

We drove around the lake, stopping and going—enjoying the views, taking photos, buying fruit. Before we knew it, it was noon. The driver suggested we skip lunch and take a pig trough boat (a traditional wooden canoe) while the sun was still good. Setting off from the Grass Sea, the round trip would take over three hours. Seven of us sat in one boat, and the boat captain assigned only one strong man to row. Without a word, Tingting picked up an oar and helped.

The boatman was in his early twenties, very shy. The girls urged him to sing, but he shook his head. He sat at the bow, his arms rowing powerfully, his back strong and steady. I whispered to Tingting, "Look at his shoulder blades—he's really worked out." Tingting smiled shyly: "Shoulder blades are nothing; his core strength is even more solid." Peipei overheard and shouted directly at the boatman, loudly complimenting his core strength. The boatman pretended not to hear, and we burst into laughter.

When the boat stopped in the middle of the lake, the boatman suddenly began humming a tune. I turned around and saw a smile at the corners of his mouth as he gazed at a pavilion on a distant island. He was humming The Love of a Daughter (a classic Chinese song). We asked him, "Boatman, who are you waiting for?" He smiled without answering. A fellow traveler pressed further: "It's your walking-marriage partner, isn't it?" He nodded silently, then said, "You city people need to learn to be still. Stop the boat here, bask in the sun, look at the lake—only then will your heart be calm." The male traveler immediately patted his girlfriend and said, "See? You're too restless."

6. Swearing You've Put Down Your Chopsticks, But Your Eyes Are Still Circling the Plate

Tingting is an out-and-out foodie—even her phone unlock code is "7777." Her backpack was stuffed with snacks from the start, and she kept replenishing with local treats along the way. Because of her, I got to taste super-sweet ginseng fruit, apples, yak meat, barbecue, and more. Her keen food radar led us to eat our way through Lugu Lake, and in the end, she even packed a whole box to take home.

Every time we sat around a table to eat, watching her devour food with gusto made my own appetite pick up. Even Peipei, who usually watches her metabolic rate, let loose and joined her for barbecue, "Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon" beer, and gossip about relationships and romance. Every time Tingting said, "I'm too full, I can't eat another bite," and put down her chopsticks, her eyes would still be roaming the plates. These little contradictions kept the dinner table filled with laughter and joy.

7. No Checking Off Tourist Spots—Play Wherever We End Up

We never strictly planned to check off scenic spots. We only aimed for comfort and happiness. Got bored with the hotel? We switched to another one on the spot. Saw a beautiful view on the road? We asked the driver to stop, got out, and played in the water. During our five- or six-hour layover in Kunming, instead of sightseeing, we went to a trendy café to check in. This itinerary might not qualify as a classic travel guide, but every place we visited was worth remembering.

8. Lucky That I Say "Let's Go," and You Say "I'm In"

I'm a Pisces—a dreamer. The moment someone mentions a trip, I'm ready to roll. But the luckiest thing is that within 24 hours of my proposing the Lugu Lake trip, the girls responded and agreed to "escape" with me. I'm not usually good at expressing care for my besties—I even ended up being taken care of by them during the trip. But at least I'm quick with the shutter. I hope they, like Peppa Pig's family, stay together—whole, happy, and beautiful.

In the End: The Meaning of Travel Is Being Together

This trip to Lugu Lake had no earth-shattering stories, no meticulously planned routes. It was simply the默契 (unspoken bond) and laughter of three girlfriends. From the "Wonder Women" looking out for me, to the "weakling" being healed; from the surprise of the lake sunrise, to the teasing of bestie secrets; from the lure of good food, to the freedom of spontaneous play—every detail became a shared memory.

If you're planning a spontaneous trip with your besties, remember these points: divide tasks clearly, but don't be too rigid; enjoy the moment, don't let plans tie you down; and most importantly, cherish the person willing to "escape" with you. Because the most beautiful scenery is never the mountains and lakes—it's the person by your side who laughs with you, plays with you, and is a "weakling" with you.

May you and your bestie, one year-end, have a trip just like this.