Zigong

Zigong is often overlooked, but its thousand-year salt-making heritage, spectacular lantern displays and distinctive salt merchants’ cuisine make it worth a dedicated city break.

• Chinese Lantern World: The park showcases more than a hundred large lantern installations, with themes ranging from traditional myths to contemporary Chinese pop culture. Arrive around 18:00 to enjoy and photograph the scenery in daylight, then watch the lanterns light up after dark. Admission is 118 yuan per person on regular days and 168 yuan during Chinese New Year. Allow about 2–3 hours.

• Shenhai Well: This is home to the world’s first hand-drilled well to exceed 1,000 meters in depth, with a striking 18.4-meter wooden derrick. Learn about traditional salt-making techniques passed down for a thousand years, and buy well salt made on-site as a souvenir. Admission is 25 yuan. Allow about 1 hour.

• Zigong Salt History Museum: The museum occupies Xiqin Guild Hall, built by salt merchants from Shaanxi during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty. The historic building retains exquisite carvings and decorations. As China’s only museum dedicated to the history of well salt, it traces 2,000 years of salt production in Zigong. Admission is 35 yuan. Allow about 1.5 hours.

• Xianshi Ancient Town: Founded during the Sui dynasty, this town was once an important stop for shipping well salt out of Sichuan. It still retains its layout of “four streets, five temples and three wharves.” Commercial development has been relatively restrained, and everyday local life still dominates the main street. The flagstone lanes are ideal for a leisurely stroll in the early evening. Entry is free. Allow about 1–2 hours.

• Ziliujing Old Street: This important historic salt-culture district stretches along the Fuxi River. Following redevelopment, it blends traditional streetscapes with modern cultural venues, shops and visitor facilities. Come for an after-dinner stroll and a taste of the city’s relaxed pace of life.
• China Lantern Museum: The world’s first museum dedicated to decorative lanterns holds more than 3,000 pieces, tracing lantern craftsmanship from the Tang dynasty to the present. Located in Lantern Park, it is best visited during the day to learn about the origins and techniques of lantern-making. Admission is free, but advance reservations are required.

Classic 2-Day, 1-Night Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Zigong in the morning; have dipping-sauce dishes or fresh-pot rabbit for lunch; visit Shenhai Well and Zigong Salt History Museum in the afternoon; head to Chinese Lantern World in the early evening to see the lanterns; return to the Huashang International City area for a late-night meal.
• Day 2: Try traditional eight-treasure porridge for breakfast; visit China Lantern Museum or Ziliujing Old Street in the morning; have salt merchants’ cuisine for lunch; stroll around Xianshi Ancient Town in the afternoon; depart in the early evening.

If you have more time, set aside an extra day for Zigong Fantawild Dino Kingdom. Its immersive Jurassic-themed experiences make it a good choice for families with children.

Must-Try Food in Zigong

Zigong cuisine is known for its bold, fresh chili heat, and salt merchants’ cuisine often combines chili with the numbing flavor of Sichuan pepper. If you cannot tolerate spicy food, explain your preferred spice level when ordering.

• Dipping-Sauce Dishes: A signature way to eat in Zigong: choose your ingredients and pair them with the restaurant’s dipping sauce, which has a pronounced chili-oil aroma. Around 30 yuan per person buys a substantial meal. Try Ruping Zhanshui Cai or Fangji Zhanshui Cai.

• Cold Spicy Rabbit: Tender yet pleasantly chewy rabbit meat is richly seasoned with chili and Sichuan pepper. Vacuum-packed versions are convenient to take home. Try Aotuji Lengchi Gongfang or Uncle Kang’s Cold Spicy Rabbit.

• Fresh-Pot Rabbit: Tender rabbit meat is cooked with young ginger and green Sichuan peppercorns, giving it a distinctive spicy aroma and numbing kick. Try Honghe Xianguo Tu or Dingji Shijia Xianguo Tu.

• Flash-Fried Kidneys: Cooked to order, this dish relies on rapid stir-frying and precise heat control. It goes well with rice. Try Shigou Restaurant or Wangjia Tucai Guan.

• Fushun Tofu Pudding: Soft, delicate tofu pudding is served with a special dipping sauce. Pair it with a mix of meat and vegetable dishes for a more balanced meal.

• Traditional Eight-Treasure Porridge: Made primarily with glutinous rice and white fungus soup, this sweet, soft porridge also helps soothe the heat after spicy food. Try Grandma Li’s Old Noodle Shop.

Transport and Accommodation Tips

• Transport: High-speed trains from Chengdu East Station to Zigong Station take about 1 hour and cost 80–100 yuan; the journey from Chongqing takes about 1.5 hours. Zigong’s main attractions are fairly close together. Short taxi rides cost under 10 yuan, and paying for buses by scanning a QR code is convenient.
• Accommodation: Consider staying near Huashang International City, which has plenty of shops and restaurants and easy access to taxis. Hotels cost around 160–280 yuan per night. The area around Ziliujing Old Street is another convenient option for shopping and dining, though prices are usually higher during holidays.

Travel Tips

• Lantern Festival Dates: Chinese Lantern World usually opens from January to June. Chinese New Year draws large crowds, so consider visiting outside peak periods or buying tickets in advance.
• Dinosaur Museum: The museum may be temporarily closed for maintenance. Check its opening arrangements before setting out to avoid a wasted trip.
• Spice Levels: Zigong food is very spicy. If you have a sensitive stomach, consider bringing your usual medication. Ordering “mild” or “young ginger flavor” is a relatively safer choice.
• Taxi Fares: Ask the driver to use the meter rather than agreeing to a flat fare.
• Footwear: The lantern park is large and involves a lot of walking. Wear comfortable, flat athletic shoes.
• Late-Night Meals: Late-night portions in Zigong tend to be generous, so avoid ordering too much. The food street near the lantern festival entrance offers unremarkable value and flavor and is not recommended as your main dining stop.