"Science says the air humidity is so high that sound vibrations can trigger rainfall," Yang says.
"But people of the Lisu ethnic group prefer to believe it's the mountain god's ear. Whatever you wish for, the god gives you."
In addition to the baishi singing, Lisu culture is rich in rituals. One dramatic tradition called "Climbing the Sword Mountain, Crossing the Sea of Fire", sees performers climbing a tower of sharp swords fixed to a 20-meter pole, blades facing upward, using only their bare hands and feet. After descending, they walk barefoot into pits of burning charcoal. The tradition honors a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) general who trained local warriors to defend the border, symbolizing courage, loyalty, and a willingness to face danger for one's community.
Beyond rich folk customs, the warmth of Lushui is not only reflected in locals' hospitality but also in its climate.
"The weather is always like early spring, flowers bloom continuously throughout the four seasons," Yang says.
He recommends watching the sunrise from the Yangpo Cloud Walkway and spending an evening strolling along the west bank of the Nujiang River.
Further afield, the city's borderlands offer their own appeal. In Pianma town, one can stand with one foot in China and one in Myanmar, a historic crossing that was once a key link on the Stilwell Road — also known as the China-India Road — during World War II.
At Denggeng village, 18 natural hot springs cascade down a cliff face, forming pools where visitors can soak while gazing out over the Nujiang River beneath a blue sky.
Those primordial hot springs have flowed at a constant temperature for 400 years. Around Spring Festival each year, people of the Lisu ethnic group gather here for the Bathing Pool Festival, setting up camps by the springs to soak, sing, drink and dance.
The tradition now serves as a link connecting the hot springs with scenic spots and traditional villages, local authorities say.
Food is another highlight. Cha Jiliang, vice-mayor of Lushui, says the region's cuisine brings together the aromas of coffee, fruit, flowers, wild mushrooms, and cured ham.
The region is home to a wealth of specialty ingredients, especially free-range poultry, highland cattle, pork from the Gaoligong slopes, and cold-water fish from pristine mountain streams.
He urges visitors to try authentic Lisu "hand-grab rice", a communal meal of rice, meat, and vegetables served on a large bamboo platter, eaten with the hands as tradition dictates.
The region's ecosystem has also given rise to premium coffee, after experts from the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences taught local farmers about seed selection, cultivation, and water and fertilizer management in 2020.
Today, more than 10,000 households across the region are involved in growing coffee.
Chu Fanglan, head of the city's publicity department, recommends visiting in May, which she describes as the most beautiful time in Lushui, with lush vegetation, flowing mountain streams, and the canyon filled with the scent of flowers. Villages echo with songs and laughter.
Sanhe village is particularly suited for spring visits, as it offers hiking, camping, rare crystal orchids, and wild raspberries that thrive in the deep shade of ancient forests, she says.
On May 3, crowds are expected to gather along the banks of the Nujiang River for the 2026 Chinese Athletics Association's 10 km elite race and 5 km fun run.
"We'll start running together, measuring the world's most beautiful canyon with our own footsteps," Chu says.
"The road is flat, but the scenery is not," she adds.
