Lijiang lake presents eco-beauty, benefiting villagers

Tourists go boating on the Lugu Lake in northwest Yunnan’s Lijiang city.

In the midst of summer, the Lugu Lake in northwest Yunnan’s Lijiang city ushers in the full bloom of Ottelia acuminata. Highly sensitive to water quality, this plant is regarded as a "touchstone for water purity." Locals often say, "Clear water brings flourishing flowers, while polluted water leads to their withering." The blooming season lasts from May to October each year.

 

Ottelia acuminata is in full bloom on the Lugu Lake.

Beyond the Ottelia flowers, Lugu Lake’s cool weather is also a major draw. Meteorological data shows that the average temperature in July and August here is just 18.2°C. "It’s incredibly refreshing here—the sun is bright but not scorching, and the scenery is perfect for photos!" said Ms. Huang, a tourist from Chongqing.

 

Tourists go boating on the Lugu Lake in northwest Yunnan’s Lijiang city.  

"These days, our boats make 150 to 200 trips on the lake daily," added Fu Yunhuan, head of the Puluo villagers’ group in Yongning town, Lijiang’s Ninglang county. Providing boat rides for tourists is a economic project for Puluo villagers. In the first five months of this year, the collective income has already reached 2.1 million yuan, with annual earning expected to exceed 6 million yuan.

 

Ottelia acuminata is in full bloom on the Lugu Lake.

Reporting by Li Tiecheng and Li Yang (Yunnan Daily); Trans-editing by Wang Shixue