Zigong Travel Guide

Located in south central Sichuan province, about 190km away from Chengdu city, Zigong is one of the most attractive places to enjoy the rich culture and profound history in China. Endowed with the advantageous environment for producing well salt and location, Zigong has been a gathering place of businessmen since 2 thousand years ago.

Zigong enjoys the titles of “Millennium Salt City”, “Hometown of Dinosaurs”, “South City of Lanterns” and “Delicacy Home” for long time, and you can experience the great history of salt production, the amazing origin and disappear of dinosaurs, the glorious lantern shows, as well as the hot and appetizing Zigong cuisine, etc. Therefore, this appealing city always makes tourists think it is a rewarding trip to visit here.

Why Visit this City:

• Hometown of Dinosaurs. Enjoying the unique location, Zigong is famous for the significant discovery of various dinosaurs. You can visit the one of the three precious museums of dinosaurs in the world to see the fossils and collections of these rare vanished species.
• Well Known Lantern Shows. Decorated in plentiful colors and exquisite styles in large scales, the lantern show in Zigong is given the reputation of “The Best Lantern under Heaven”, attracting numerous visitors from far and near.
• Historic Salt City. For the unique environment, Zigong is an inland city of well salt production for more than 2 thousand year. In Zigong Salt Industry History Museum and Shenhai Well, you can know the production process of well salt and the long history of this salt city.
• Delicious Zigong Salt Gang’s Dishes. Appetizing, hot and delicious, Zigong cuisine is another famous branch of Sichuan cuisine and catches the taste bud of every foodie.

Top Attractions

Established as a city because of the salt production, Zigong is most well-known for the exploration of the salt history in Zigong Salt Industry History Museum. Also, the can’t-missing dinosaur fossils and the lantern festival show, giant Buddha in Rong County and more interesting attractions will make your trip unforgettable.

Zigong Dinosaur Museum

Famous as the National Dinosaur Museum in US and Canadian Dinosaur Museum, it has been rated “World’s Best Dinosaur Museum” by the National Geographic Magazine for exhibitions of a largest number of Jurassic-dinosaur fossils of all the known species in the era 2.05 million years to 1.35 million years before.

Zigong Salt History Museum

With numerous historic documents and objects of ancient Chinese well salt industry, this museum tells the development in well drilling, brine and natural gas exploitation and salt production in the past 2,000 years or more, testifying that China was the birthplace of oil drilling techniques.

China Color Lantern Museum

Founded in 1930, this museum for hosting the annual Zigong Lantern Festival is situated in downtown Zigong. With a hill looking down a lake casting their shadows onto the rippling surface of the water, the park is picturesque. Open from 8:30-17:30 every day, but colorful lanterns display at night.

Shenhaijing Salt Well

Dug in 1835, it was the world’s 1st manually sunk well over a kilometer deep and is by far China’s only salt well operated with the traditional technique, producing brine and natural gas. Its well-drilling technique is celebrated as the “Fifth of China’s Great Inventions” and a milestone in the world history of science and technology.

Featured Activities

To make your trip to Zigong more wonderful, we list the following top popular activities in Zigong. Your stay in Zigong will absolutely unforgettable in your life. Choose your likes and enjoy!

Zigong Lantern Festival

Usually held during the January to March, this excellent lantern show is a symbol of Zigong city. Colorfully decorated lanterns in various shapes of dragon, lion, pagoda, tunnel, etc. make your eyes busy to see all the great artistic works. You can experience the happy atmosphere of Chinese people.

Salt Gang’s Dishes

Originated in East Han dynasty, the Salt Gang’s Dish is specialized for its strong flavor, spicy delicious taste. Special Zigong cuisine is one of the blossoms of Sichuan cuisine, with famous “poached sliced beef in hot chili oil”, “steamed beef with flour”, “egg foo yung”, fish and other tasteful dishes.

Weather & When to Go

Zigong city belongs to subtropical monsoon climate and has four distinctive seasons of spring, summer, fall and autumn, with a yearly average temperature of 17-18℃. With enough rainfall, particularly in July and August, Zigong is humid all year round.

The best time to visit Zigong city is from May to August when the moderate weather is the most comfortable.

But Zigong Lantern festival is during late January and early March, around Spring Festival; Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Show is usually held from between January and March.( For detail date, please contact our travel consultant without hesitation.)

Transportation

By Flight

The airport in Zigong has not yet well constructed till today. There are two large international airports near this city for you choice. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport has opened more than 70 international airlines and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport has opened 58 airlines to and from Europe, American, Australia, and Asia…

By Train

Zigong Railway Station is located at the Ziliujing District that is the central area of the city. Since many high speed trains to and from Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Guiyang, Hangzhou, Kunming, etc. stop here, it is very convenient to reach this city.

By Long-distance Bus

From Chengdu, you can take a long-distance bus to Zigong within 3 hours. You can buy a ticket in Beimen Bus Station for RMB84, Xinnanmen Bus Station for about RMB50 (to Zigong Dinosaur Museum), Chengdu Bus Terminal for about RMB85 or Shuangliu Airport Bus Station for about RMB86.

Getting Around

In Zigong city, taking a regular bus or a taxi to travel is very convenient and cheap. You can also find many long-distance buses to other cities like Luzhou, Yibin, Neijiang, Chengdu, Leshan, Emei, Mianyang, Nanchong, Chongqing, etc.

Accommodation

It is very easy to find a comfortable hotel or hostel to stay in Zigong, especially in the most prosperous Ziliujing District. You can choose the luxury Tanmulin Celebrity City Hotel of five-Star and some four-star hotels with pleasant services and superior equipment, such as the Zigong Huidong Hotel, Ying Xiang JinJiang Tower, Xiongfei Holiday Hotel, Vilu Reef International Hotel, Sophia Hotel, etc. Also, there are a lot of comfortable hotels of nice prices, like the 7 Days Inn Zigong Bus Station Branch near the bus station. But please remember that though the hotels in the downtown area will make your trip more convenient, it may be noisier at night.

Zigong Maps

We show you some very useful maps of Zigong city for your trip here. You can feel free to use them when you want to know the attractions, location.

Location Map of Zigong

Other Destinations in Sichuan

There are numerous attractive destinations in Sichuan province apart from Zigong, like Shunan Bamboo Forest in Yibin, Anren Ancient Town in Ya’an, Chengdu, Langzhong Ancient Town, Mount Emei, Leshan Giant Buddha, etc. You will feel time limited to discover all the beauty of these destinations. Discovery now!

Ciqikou ancient Town

Shunan Bamboo Forest

Emeishan

Leshan