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Prefecture-level city in Sichuan, People's Republic of China
Photo: liuzusai刘祖赛, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Zigong (自贡) is a city in East Sichuan. It used to make its fortune from salt production, but now is better known as a destination that caters primarily to Chinese tourists who come to see its large dinosaur museum, and of course, its salt museum.
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自贡恐龙博物馆
Located on top of the Dashanpu Formation, China's most famous dinosaur fossil site, where hundreds of dinosaur fossils have been found since the 1970s. The museum was the first museum in China to be devoted exclusively to dinosaurs. The museum is quite large, covering a surface area of 25,000 m² and display area of 3600 m². Besides the usual displays, one can also view an excavation pit where fossils have been unearthed.
自贡盐业历史博物馆
The museum is housed inside what used to be a guild hall for salt merchants.The exquisite decor is representative of the wood and rock carving styles of the Qing dynasty.
燊海井
The Shenhai Well is a one-kilometre-deep salt well that was constructed in 1835. It is the only traditional salt well in China that is still being used to this day.
中国彩灯博物馆
荣县大佛
The Rong County Giant Buddha is located at Zhenruyan, Songjia Chong Village, in the eastern suburbs of Rong County, covering an area of approximately 23,000 m². The main statue is the Shakyamuni Buddha, giving the site its name, Dafosi (Great Buddha Temple). It was built in the Song Dynasty and rebuilt during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. The temple is constructed along the mountainside, perched halfway up the hill. The grotto temple is centered on the Maitreya Hall and the Buddha Hall, flanked by the Abbot’s Chamber, Sutra Library, Dharma Hall, and other structures. It also features carvings of Bodhidharma and inscriptions by famous figures from various periods. In 2006, it was listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit.
仙市古镇
Xianshi Ancient Town, hailed as a "model of ancient town charm in southern Sichuan," is an important site for showcasing Sichuan’s salt culture and southern Sichuan folk customs. The town has a history of over 1,400 years and features traditional residences and ancient temples and halls from the late Qing and early Republican periods. It was once a key salt transport port on the Fuxi River and is known as "China’s No. 1 Salt Transport Town." It is a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction.
王爷庙
Wangye Temple, also known as Fuxi First Pavilion, is a Qing-dynasty temple complex that was built during the Xianfeng reign (1851–1861). The surviving opera stage dates from 1906 and follows a traditional axial layout with a timber-frame structure and hip-and-gable roof; the original main hall no longer exists. Notable features include the Huanyu Pool stone inscription and the “Return Our Land” carving. The site has been protected as a municipal heritage site since 1985 and a provincial heritage site since 1988.
自贡国际恐龙灯会, 自贡灯会 Zigong Lantern Festival
Zigong is one of the best places in China to experience the Lantern Festival, for it is here where the festival originated.
自贡方特恐龙王国
Zigong Fantawild Dino Kingdom is a theme park that opened in June 2022. It features 4D theaters, roller coasters, and various interactive attractions, combining Zigong’s dinosaur heritage with elements of ancient Shu culture to offer immersive entertainment and educational experiences for visitors of all ages.
艾叶豆花庄
Aiye Douhua Restaurant is a local eatery founded in 1992, known for Zigong-style home cooking. Signature items include old-style and soft tofu with spicy dipping sauce, along with classic Sichuan dishes such as stir-fried pork kidney. Prices are reasonable, and it can be busy at peak times.
自贡一三一缥香兔
Zigong 131 Piaoxiang Rabbit is a Salt Merchant–style restaurant founded in 2014, known for its signature piaoxiang rabbit and other local dishes such as double-pepper rabbit. It is a place to sample Zigong-style cuisine.
尖山土菜馆
Zigong Jianshan Local Cuisine Restaurant is a Salt Merchant–style restaurant founded in 2015, focusing on home-style dishes cooked over high heat and served in generous portions. Common dishes include roasted rabbit, spicy rabbit tripe, and eel.
888嫩鱼馆
Zigong 888 Tender Fish Restaurant is a long-running local eatery with over 20 years of history, specializing in Zigong-style fish dishes. Common options include tiaoshui fish, fish with pork intestines, and ginger-flavored fish, along with rabbit and other Sichuan dishes.
余之味鲜鱼蛋
Zigong Yuzhiwei Fresh Fish Roe Restaurant is a Salt Merchant–style eatery focusing on fish roe dishes. Typical options include fresh-chili fish roe and pickled-chili fish roe, along with Sichuan-style dishes such as dry-pot duck feet and pan-fried duck.
358小炒
Zigong 358 Stir-fry is a small local eatery with nearly 20 years of history, focusing on Zigong-style home stir-fries. Common dishes include stir-fried pork kidney, mixed offal, liver-and-kidney stir-fry, and twice-cooked pork, with flavors leaning toward savory and spicy.
168幺陆捌·家常菜馆
Zigong 168 Home-style Restaurant is a Salt Merchant–style eatery founded in 1991, with several branches across the city. It focuses on traditional home-style dishes, with common items such as stir-fried pork kidney, pan-fried pork intestines, and corn-braised rabbit. Flavors are generally spicy, with some milder options available.
兰兰夜宵
Zigong Lanlan Night Snacks is a Salt Merchant–style night eatery established in 1999, which started as a street stall and now operates several branches. It focuses on dinner and late-night dining, offering dishes such as braised ribbonfish, spicy stir-fried tripe and pork kidney, rabbit head, and fish roe, with flavors leaning toward savory and spicy.
Zigong Cellar Liquor is crafted using local spring water, wheat, and grain, brewed with traditional fermentation techniques. The liquor has a strong aroma, spicy opening taste, and long-lasting warm finish, typical of Sichuan-style Baijiu.
Zigong Old Cellar Liquor is a well-known local Baijiu brand with a rich, bold aroma and a slightly sweet aftertaste. The alcohol flavor is intense but smooth, often served at banquets and family gatherings.
Zigong herbal tea is made from traditional Chinese herbs to clear internal heat and relieve summer fatigue. The taste is slightly bitter at first, followed by a cooling and mildly sweet aftertaste. It is especially popular during hot and humid summers.
It is in the city center, with convenient transportation. It is a 12-minute drive from Zigong Railway Station, with convenient transportation.
汇东大酒店, Huidong Grand Hotel
An international standard 4-star hotel. Offers spacious rooms with nice decor. The restaurant serves a Western buffet breakfast.
自贡国投豪生大酒店
It has a garden and massage services. The accommodation is equipped with an indoor pool, a fitness center, a restaurant and free WiFi. This hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a TV and a private bathroom with shower facilities. The rooms of Zigong Guotou Howard Johnson Hotel are equipped with bedding and towels.This accommodation offers buffet and Asian breakfast options.The 24-hour front desk staff can speak Mandarin and English and can help guests at any time. Yibin Wuliangye Airport is 75 km away from the accommodation.
全季酒店
Ji Hotel is a mid-range chain hotel offering a range of rooms. Facilities include a 24-hour front desk, a fitness room, laundry facilities, and an on-site restaurant with breakfast service.
维也纳国际酒店
Vienna International Hotel is an upper mid-range chain hotel offering a range of room types. Guest facilities include a 24-hour front desk, breakfast area, fitness room, laundry facilities, and meeting space, making it suitable for both business and leisure stays.
自贡步行街（解放路/中山路）
It offers a wide range of shopping, dining, leisure, and entertainment options, making it one of Zigong's busiest commercial districts.
华商南湖奥特莱斯
Zigong Huashang Nanhu Outlets is a large shopping mall featuring outlet-style retail, dining, children’s entertainment, and lifestyle services, with a mix of domestic and international brands.
By train
From Chengdu, there are eight high-speed trains to Zigong per day, most of which depart from Chengdu East Railway Station. The fare ranges from ¥80 to ¥96 and the journey takes just over an hour.
By bus
Buses to Zigong are available from several bus stations in Chengdu, including Beimen Bus Station, Chadianzi Bus Station, Chengdu General Bus Station, Chengdu East Railway Station Bus Station, Huayang…
Taxis and buses are available. Buses are the cheapest way to get around and they are a fun way to explore this city. Many routes drive along the riverside.
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Yibin (Cuiping) · Regional · YBP
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