Zigong

Zigong is a prefecture-level city located in the Sichuan Basin of southwestern China.

The city sits south of the Sichuan basin hill country. To its east lies Luzhou, while Leshan is to its west. Yibin is located to the south, and Neijiang is to the northeast. The Fuxi River, a tributary of the Tuo River, flows through the center of the city. Because this region sits where a vast inland sea once existed, the area is very humid. This environment often produces heavy ground fog that reduces visibility.

The name Zigong was formed in 1939 by merging two older towns. These towns were Ziliujing and Gongjing. The name Zigong combines parts of both original names. Today, the prefecture includes four municipal districts and two counties. These are Ziliujing, Da'an, Gongjing, and Yantan districts, along with Rong and Fushun counties. The city is recognized as one of the Historical and Cultural Cities of China. It is often called the "Salt Capital" because of its long history of salt production.

Salt production in Zigong began as far back as the Eastern Han Dynasty. This industry flourished during the Tang and Song Dynasties. It reached a peak during the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. The salt produced here was of such high quality that it was sent to the Emperor as a tribute. In fact, the chief inspector of the Chinese Salt Administration stated that the best salt in China came from the wells of Sichuan. The Ziliujing District contains these superior wells. For a long time, salt was a vital resource for preserving meat, fish, and vegetables before refrigeration existed.

The process of extracting salt from brine involved complex engineering. First, a drilling rig was used to create a borehole. Workers used a drilling bit and rope to reach deep underground. To collect the brine, which has a salinity of at least 50 grams per liter, a long tube was lowered into the hole. A membrane valve then captured the brine for retrieval. Once the liquid reached the surface, it was piped into flat pans for boiling. During boiling, workers added crushed yellow soybean to the mixture. The soybean absorbed impurities, leaving a yellow layer that was scraped off to reveal pure salt.

Zigong's drilling technology was incredibly advanced for its time. In 1835, miners drilled a well that reached 3,300 feet. This was the deepest well in the world at that time. The miners developed percussion drilling methods to reach these depths. These techniques were later copied and refined by Europeans. Today, the influence of these early methods can be seen in modern drilling rigs used for oil and water. An unexpected byproduct of this drilling was natural gas. Because it was not used for many things at the time, the gas was piped to the salt works to boil the brine.

Modern Zigong is a mixture of industrial roots and new developments. The city reached by rail in the 1950s and is now connected by several four-lane highways. The urban area has grown significantly, with the 2020 census recording a population of 2,489,256. While the total population saw a slight decrease between 2010 and 2020, the built-up metro area grew. The urbanization rate was 57.69% at the start of 2024. The city now hosts the Sichuan University of Science and Engineering and a High Technology Zone. It has transitioned from a purely industrial salt city to a center for tourism and chemical production.

Visitors to Zigong can explore unique historical and scientific sites. The Zigong Dinosaur Museum was established in 1987 after fossils were found in the Shaximiao Formation.

This museum was the first specialized dinosaur museum in Asia. It features specimens like the Sinraptor and Xiaosaurus.

Another landmark is the Wangye Miao Teahouse. This historic building was once a guild hall for salt merchants and sits along the Fuxi River.

Finally, the city is famous for the Chinese Lantern Festival. This tradition has existed since the Tang dynasty. The annual lantern shows bring significant tourism revenue to the region.