Construction of an airport near China's last matriarchal society in southwestern Yunnan Province has started, local authorities said Wednesday.

A 10.5-km road linking to the construction site of Lugu Lake Airport, in Ninglang Yi Autonomous County of Lijiang City, has been built up, said a spokesman with the provincial civil aviation department.

The airport is located 65 km north of the county seat and 35 km from Lugu Lake. It will cover 1.77 square km with a terminal building of 4,000 square meters, at a cost of 837 million yuan (US$122.6 million), the spokesman said.

The airport will boost local tourism and promote the social and economic development of the area, the spokesman said.

With their wood-frame houses scattered around the 60-sq-km Lugu Lake separating Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, the Mosuo ethnic minority has a population of about 40,000.

Unlike the majority of China's ethnic groups who follow a strong patrilineal tradition, they have preserved their ancient matriarchal system and the tradition of "walking marriage".

After puberty, a Mosuo girl is free to receive men. But they can only visit at night and must go to their own homes in the morning. Any children born from these relationships are raised by the mother's family.

If either member of such a couple tires of the relationship, they will move on to a new partner.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2009)