The River of Everlasting Lights: Zigong Fuxi River Night Cruise and the Dream of the Salt Capital

The "Mother River" of the Salt Capital

1.Flowing through the heart of Zigong: City, Sichuan Province, the Fuxi River (Fuxi He) is known as the "Mother River" of this millennium-old salt capital. Historically called the Yanjing River (Salt Well River), it is a major tributary of the Tuo River. For centuries, this waterway served as the economic lifeline of the region, shouldering over 80% of the task of transporting Zigong's well salt out of the basin. In the prosperous eras of the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the river was crowded with salt boats and forests of masts, witnessing the rise of a city "wealthy enough to rival the whole of Sichuan." Today, the Fuxi River Night Cruise (Ye You Fuxi) revitalizes this ancient waterway, transforming it into a dazzling corridor of light and history. Covering a route of approximately 6.2 kilometers from the Maojiaba wharf to Zhangjiatuo or Ziliujing Old Street, this cruise creates a unique "water lantern festival" that blends Zigong's 800-year legacy of lantern-making with its 2,000-year history of salt production.

2.An Immersive: Visual Feast of Light and Shadow

The cruise is not merely a sightseeing trip; it is an immersive cultural experience often described as a "City within a Lantern, Lanterns within a City." Utilizing modern sound, light, and electrical technologies, the tour presents a spectacular visual narrative across "one river, three bays, four sections, and twenty-four scenes." As the painted boat departs from the pier, visitors are greeted by a water curtain projection titled "Dreaming Back to the Ancient Salt Capital," followed by themed sections like "Ancient Ocean of Billions of Years" and "The Birth of Zhuotong Well," which vividly retell the geological formation and technological evolution of the salt industry. The riverbanks come alive with large-scale lantern sets and naked-eye 3D projections. Highlights include the "Dragon Roaring in Mountains," featuring Zigong’s dinosaur IP characters leaping through the forests, and the mesmerizing "Salt Boat Love Song" and "Fish and Dragon Dance at Night" holographic water shows, where dynamic projections interact with the river surface to create dreamlike illusions.

A Journey Through History and Folklore

3.The Fuxi: River cruise deeply integrates local folklore and historical landmarks. The route passes by significant heritage sites such as the Wangye Temple (Wangye Miao), a guild hall built by salt merchants to worship the water gods. Here, the cruise may pause, allowing passengers to witness traditional Sichuan Opera face-changing performances or explore local intangible cultural heritage like tie-dyeing on the shore. The projection mapping on bridges like the Dongxing Temple Bridge and Shuiyaju Bridge turns concrete structures into canvases displaying scrolls of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains," narrating the city's patriotic history during the Anti-Japanese War when salt tax revenue supported the nation. The illuminated Ziliujing Old Street reflects the bustling commerce of the past, while new installations like the "Salt Horse Ancient Road" lanterns bring the chanting of ancient salt workers back to life. This fusion of static scenery and dynamic performance offers a profound insight into the spirit of the Salt Capital.

A Modern Nightlife Landmark

Since its launch in 2019, the Fuxi River Night Cruise has become a signature attraction of Zigong's night economy, particularly popular during the Spring Festival and the Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival. It offers a distinct alternative to the static displays in parks, allowing tourists to "swim in the lights." The experience is designed to be interactive, with features like 3D turntable lucky draws and touch-controlled lighting along the banks. Whether it is the romantic atmosphere of the "half city of green hills, half city of towers" reflecting in the water, or the excitement of iron flower shows (molten iron fireworks) and drone performances at Zhangjiatuo, the cruise provides a multi-sensory journey. It is a place where the ancient "Salt, Dragon, and Lantern" cultures converge, offering a tranquil yet vibrant escape into the history and modernity of Zigong.