The Imperial Palace of Salt: Zigong Salt History Museum and the Legacy of the Xiqin Guild Hall

The "Imperial Palace" of the Salt Capital

1.Located at: No. 173 Jiefang Road in the Ziliujing District of Zigong City, Sichuan Province, the Zigong Salt History Museum is a dazzling architectural gem nestled against the backdrop of Longfeng Mountain. Established in 1959 at the initiative of Deng Xiaoping, it is one of the earliest specialized museums in China and the only one in the country dedicated to the history of salt technology. However, the museum's building itself is an artifact of immense value. Housed in the Xiqin Guild Hall (Western Qin Guild Hall), which was built in the first year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1736) by wealthy salt merchants from Shaanxi, this complex took 16 years to complete. It is often hailed as a "living fossil" of China's well-salt civilization. The architecture is a masterful blend of Ming and Qing palace styles with folk craftsmanship, featuring exquisite wood carvings, stone sculptures, and soaring eaves that reflect the immense wealth and status of the ancient salt merchants. Today, it stands as a National Level 1 Museum and a National 3A Tourist Attraction, offering a window into the 2,000-year-old history of the "Salt Capital".

A Temple of Ancient Engineering

The core of the museum lies in its comprehensive display of well-salt drilling technology, a field in which Zigong led the world for centuries. The museum houses the only complete set of ancient percussion drilling tools in the world. Visitors can marvel at over 500 different types of tools, ranging from drill bits to recovery instruments, which demonstrate how ancient Chinese laborers conquered the underground to extract brine from depths exceeding 1,000 meters. The exhibits vividly reconstruct the evolution of drilling techniques, from the large-mouth shallow wells of the Han Dynasty to the small-mouth deep wells of the Song and Qing Dynasties. A highlight is the detailed model and history of the Shenhai Well, drilled in 1835, which was the world's first man-made well to exceed 1,000 meters in depth. This technological achievement is recognized internationally as the "Father of Modern Oil Drilling," showcasing an industrial miracle created with wood, iron, and bamboo long before the Western industrial revolution reached this depth.

The Art of Salt and Wealth

Beyond technology, the museum offers a deep dive into the socio-economic impact of salt. The Xiqin Guild Hall itself was built not only as a meeting place for Shaanxi merchants but also as a temple dedicated to Guan Yu (the God of War and Wealth), reflecting the intertwining of commerce and faith. The interior is adorned with hundreds of intricate carvings depicting mythical beasts, historical dramas, and floral patterns, making it a paradise for architecture and photography enthusiasts. The museum also preserves the "Yankou Bu" (Salt Well Log), the oldest geological drilling record in China, which functions as an ancient engineering diary detailing rock layers and accident handling. Furthermore, the "History of Salt Tax" exhibit reveals how Zigong's salt revenue once supported a significant portion of the provincial and even national treasury, particularly during the War of Resistance, when the city's "Gold Donation Campaign" set national records.

A Journey Through Time

Walking through the museum is like stepping back into the bustling era of the Qing Dynasty salt trade. The main hall, with its grand theater stage and tiered pavilions, whispers stories of the powerful merchant guilds that once dominated the economy of the Sichuan basin. The museum collection includes over 18,000 cultural artifacts, including salt contracts, land deeds, and rare geological specimens. Whether you are an engineering buff fascinated by the mechanics of the "Heavenly Vehicle" (derricks) or a history lover captivated by the rise of a city built on brine, the Zigong Salt History Museum provides a profound narrative. It perfectly illustrates why salt was historically considered as precious as gold and how the ingenuity of the Zigong people created a unique industrial civilization that continues to shape the city's identity today.