However, the musical tradition is only one facet of what Lushui has to offer.

The city sits in the heart of the Three Parallel Rivers area, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, where the Jinsha, Nujiang and Lancang rivers run roughly parallel for more than 170 kilometers, separated by massive mountain ranges. Despite its remote mountain setting, Lushui is increasingly accessible. Visitors can fly to Baoshan Yunrui Airport, about a two-hour drive away, and the newly upgraded highway from Baoshan has significantly reduced travel time, making the canyon's edge reachable within a day from most Chinese cities.

With an elevation range of 3,400 meters, Lushui spans five climate zones, allowing visitors to experience four seasons in a single day.

"We have a spot called Tiger Leap, where the river narrows to just 10 meters, and the Nujiang River crashes through, sending waves meters high," says Yang Bo, Party secretary of Lushui, at the tourism promotional event in Beijing.

He also recommends Hundred Birds Valley, where tens of thousands of migratory birds stop to rest each spring and autumn, as well as Listening Fate (Tingming) Lake, hidden deep in the Gaoligong Mountains.