Poetic Zigong Station in China: Recommended Attractions in Zigong
【Zigong|More Than Just Dinosaurs and Lantern Festival! Hidden Salt City Experiences✨Millennium Salt Wells + Kingdom of Lanterns + Ancient Town Secrets】
Who says Zigong is only about the Dinosaur Museum?
This "Millennium Salt City, Hometown of Dinosaurs, and China’s Lantern City"
hides Qing Dynasty deep wells still steaming, the world’s largest lantern park,
a thousand-year-old salt transport ancient town, and even a real-life "Jurassic Park"!
Few crowds, stunning scenery, and a slow pace—perfect for a two-day weekend getaway~🌿
🦕 1. Zigong Dinosaur Museum
One of the world’s top three dinosaur fossil museums!
Built right on the original fossil site,
thousands of Shulong and Mamenchisaurus skeletons are impressively displayed,
with tons of interactive exhibits: AR dinosaur resurrection, simulated excavation, temperature-controlled egg hatching…
✅ Local tip: Visit in the morning for the best light and to avoid holiday crowds!
🏮 2. China Lantern World
The world’s largest lantern-themed park!
The winter lantern festival is an annual highlight—
200+ intangible cultural heritage artisans handcraft lantern displays,
featuring mythical beasts from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Dunhuang flying apsaras, cyberpunk streets…
Immersive light shows + drone performances,
entering at night feels like stepping into an Eastern fantasy dream🌌
✅ Tip: The festival usually runs from December to March; the park may be closed outside the festival season!
🎢 3. Zigong Fantawild Dinosaur Kingdom
A real-life "Jurassic Park"!
4D cinema time travel to the Cretaceous, AR dragon hunting, jungle rafting…
A perfect blend of education and entertainment,
a must-visit for families—kids won’t want to leave!
✅ Just a street away from the Dinosaur Museum, easy to visit both in one trip~
🧂 4. Shenhai Well
The world’s first ultra-deep well over a thousand meters!
Dug during the Qing Dynasty Daoguang era, still producing salt today,
you can watch the entire traditional salt-making process on site—
brine boiling, salt crystal formation,
and even taste freshly made "well salt," salty and pure!
✅ Next door is the Jicheng Salt Workshop ruins, a must-see for history buffs!
🏯 5. Zigong Salt Industry History Museum (Xiqin Guild Hall)
The only professional museum dedicated to well salt history in China!
Built by Shaanxi salt merchants in the Qing Dynasty, with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent in gold and colors,
see models of salt-lifting machines, restored salt boats, and contract documents,
understand the millennium-old legend of a city founded on salt.
✅ Free admission! Exchange your ID for a ticket; the building itself is very photogenic📸
🗿 6. Rong County Giant Buddha
The second largest Buddha in Sichuan!
A 71-meter tall Tang Dynasty stone-carved Maitreya sitting statue, carved into the mountain, majestic and grand,
climb to the top for panoramic views of Rong County,
the light and shadow on the Buddha at dawn or dusk are stunning,
the mountain path is quiet and peaceful, calming the mind instantly.
🌸 7. Xianshi Ancient Town
"The First Town of Millennium Salt Transport"!
Well-preserved Ming and Qing Southern Sichuan residences,
small bridges and flowing water, bluestone paths, old teahouses, blacksmith shops,
dragon dances at Spring Festival, dragon boat races at Dragon Boat Festival,
usually tranquil like a hidden paradise,
wear Hanfu and every photo looks like an ancient-style masterpiece!
🌺 8. Zigong Flower Sea
A free flower sea changing with the seasons!
Cherry blossoms + rapeseed flowers in March-April, sunflowers + muhly grass in September-October,
perfect for cycling, picnics, and photos,
arrive an hour before sunset for soft light and full atmosphere~
🏞️ 9. Jianshan Scenic Area
A natural oxygen bar near the city!
Over 90% forest coverage,
pink peach blossoms in March, cool summer retreat,
boat rides on the lake, mountain hiking and sightseeing,
a local secret weekend escape!
📸 Hidden Gems
Wu Yuzhang Former Residence (Rong County): Red education base, honoring revolutionary pioneers
Jiang Jie’s Hometown Red Education Base: Learn about heroic lives, solemn and dignified environment
Nanhu Ecological Park: Urban wetland with a unique night light show
Travel Tips:
Dinosaur Museum + Fantawild + Shenhai Well can be arranged in one day (all in Da’an District)
China Lantern World may be closed outside the festival season, check the official website before traveling!
Xianshi Ancient Town and Rong County Giant Buddha are best reached by car; public transport is inconvenient
Salt Industry Museum is downtown with limited parking; taxi is recommended
The beauty of Zigong
is the billion-year silence of dinosaur fossils,
the winter romance lit by lanterns,
and the thousand-year salt mist rising from Shenhai Well.
It is small yet exquisite, ancient yet new,
with world-class natural heritage,
and a unique well salt civilization.
This weekend, why not come to Zigong—
where the ancient and modern salt city blend,
and experience a time-traveling surprise❤️