Gemu Goddess Mountain
格姆女神山
A sacred Mosuo mountain standing 3,770 metres on the north shore of Lugu Lake, shaped like a reclining goddess; a cable car takes you up to the Goddess Cave and a viewpoint overlooking the entire lake.
Gemu Goddess Mountain rises on the north shore of Lugu Lake, between Lige and Xiaoluoshui, to an elevation of about 3,770 metres. It is a sacred mountain of the Mosuo people. According to legend, the goddess Gemu fell in love with the male god Houlong, and their story took place on the shores of the lake. Every year on the 25th day of the seventh lunar month, the Mosuo hold the Mountain Circumambulation Festival, when people in festive dress climb the mountain to worship, race horses and sing antiphonal songs. Halfway up is the Goddess Cave, with stalactites all over the walls, a ceiling about 100 metres high, and a statue of the goddess. The summit viewing platform overlooks the whole of Lugu Lake and the Lige Peninsula, and it is the only high point from which to photograph the entire lake. How to visit: take the cable car from the base station at the foot of the mountain, which rises for about 15 minutes to the Goddess Cave (a combined cable car and cave ticket costs about RMB 110, and a one-way cable car ticket about RMB 70). Walking through the cave takes about 30 minutes, and from there a plank walkway leads up to the viewing platform. The whole visit takes about 2 to 3 hours. You can also hike up without the cable car, but it takes much longer, the paths are poor, and this is not recommended. The cable car usually operates from about 8:30 to 17:00, and it is suspended during thunderstorms and strong winds. Getting there: the base station is on the north shore of the lakeside ring road, about 3 km east of Lige, where there is a car park. From Lige, an electric scooter takes about 10 minutes. Notes: the summit is close to 3,800 metres, so walk slowly to avoid altitude sickness. The cave is damp and cool, so bring a jacket. The cable car is often under maintenance or closed due to weather, so check with your guesthouse before setting off. The Mountain Circumambulation Festival draws large crowds, and the roads get congested.
Opening hours
Cable car approx. 08:30–17:00