Goddess Gemu Mountain

　　Goddess Gemu Mountain, standing at an elevation of 3,754.7 meters, is the highest peak around Lugu Lake. From the ancient pilgrimage trail behind Dazu Naxi Village, passing through the cypress-scented woods, you can reach the summit where the Goddess Temple and Goddess Cave are located. In Mosuo mythology, this mountain is the incarnation of Goddess Gemu. Shaped like a crescent, Lugu Lake reveals its full panorama only when viewed from atop Goddess Mountain. During the Pilgrimage Festival, Mosuo people ascend the mountain to worship the goddess. From the mountaintop to its base, processions of worshippers form vibrant, colorful dragon-like lines, while chants of the “Goddess Song” echo through the skies. Among China’s countless famous mountains, Goddess Gemu Mountain stands out with its unique concept of harmony between heaven and humanity.

　　Goddess Gemu Mountain stands to the north of Lugu Lake. With its majestic and imposing presence, it overlooks the narrow, elongated fertile island (Lige Island) that extends from the northeast into the lake—resembling a "golden otter catching fish" or a dragon chasing pearls in the lake.

　　The most breathtaking view of Goddess Gemu Mountain is from afar. Standing at a distance across the mirror-like, beautiful lake, gazing at the grand and towering mountain, one feels as if entering a realm of the divine.

　　The water here is so crystal clear, the plants and trees so lush, and the air so fresh and natural—emanating the mysterious and pristine aura of nature. It deeply moves every visitor who comes from near and far.

　　Goddess Gemu Mountain is also known as Lion Mountain. In the Mosuo language, it is called “Gemu,” and in Tibetan, “Sengge Gemu,” where “Sengge” means lion and “Gemu” means white goddess. The Mosuo people deify Gemu Mountain, regarding it as the embodiment of femininity, and worship it devoutly. On the 25th day of the seventh lunar month each year, the entire community holds a grand festival to honor the goddess—an event with a history of over a thousand years.

　　Also called Lion Mountain, Goddess Gemu Mountain is a sacred mountain of the Mosuo people located by Lugu Lake. Aside from admiring the highland pearl that is the vast lake, visiting Goddess Gemu Mountain is a top priority for travelers to Lugu Lake. Lijiang Jinsha’s Lugu Lake tour routes also include a visit to this mountain. The Lugu Lake region is home to a diverse mix of ethnic groups, including Han, Tibetan, Naxi, Mosuo, and Yi peoples, hence the mountain has various names. Goddess Gemu Mountain is higher in the south and lower in the north, predominantly in grayish-white hues, but turns green when covered with vegetation. Its main peak, also named Gemu, has an elevation of 3,754 meters, about 1,000 meters above the lake surface, making it a very high mountain. The shape of the mountain strikingly resembles a lion, which is why it is also known as Lion Mountain.

　　For thousands of years, Goddess Gemu Mountain has been worshipped by the local people of Lugu Lake. Only in recent years has it been developed for tourism. Today, it has become a major highlight of Lugu Lake tourism. Lijiang Jinsha Travel’s Lugu Lake tours include a visit to this mountain. Visitors can take a cable car up the mountain and explore the Goddess Cave beneath the Goddess Peak. Goddess Gemu Cave is located at the “neck” of Lion Mountain, at an altitude of 3,450 meters. The cave entrance faces Lugu Lake, and standing on the viewing platform there, you can frame the lake in your heart from yet another expansive angle. Inside the cave, under the dim glow of colored lights, the stalactites appear surreal and fantastical. After climbing a few steps, the true visage of Goddess Gemu comes into view. Though she lives in the hearts of the Mosuo people, her image is also vividly present within the cave. At this moment, the image of the goddess is engraved even more deeply in the footsteps of every devout visitor.

　　American scholar Joseph Rock described it in his book *The Ancient Na-Khi Kingdom of Southwest China* as follows: “Lion Mountain is the most prominent feature of Yongning’s scenery. The name is truly fitting—as it closely resembles a sleeping lion, its head facing the lake, with sloping ridges like the lion’s paws resting in the green waters.”