Zigong

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.

By plane
Bus to Zigong are available from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. There are 8 buses per day, including 6 standard-class buses and 2 business class coaches. The fare for the standard-class buses is ¥87 and the fare for the business-class buses is ¥120. The journey time is approximately 3 hours.

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 Bus Station, Longquan Bus Station, Qingbaijiang Bus Station and Xinnanmen Bus Station. Some of these bus stations, including Chadianzi Bus Station and Xinnanmen Bus Station have direct buses to the Zigong Dinosaur Museum and the Zigoing Salt Museum. Bus fares range from ¥60 to ¥142 depending on the type of bus. The journey time is roughly 3 hours.

Buses from Chongqing depart from Chongqing Long-Distance Bus Station, every 30 minutes daily starting at 07:00 and ending at 17:30, travel time is 2-3 hours. ¥76.

Get around
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.

However, maybe the best way to get around is to go mostly by foot, since you can only really see the beauty of this small city when you enjoy it from the closest point of view with the locals.

Do

 * If you do decide to visit, make sure you try all the different types of foods and drinks and definitely don't be afraid to learn some phrases of the local dialect (自贡话).
 * If you do decide to visit, make sure you try all the different types of foods and drinks and definitely don't be afraid to learn some phrases of the local dialect (自贡话).

Eat
Zigong food is one of a kind even in Sichuan, due to its rich culture and history. Some dishes found in Zigong are common to the Sichuan area with local variations, and some are unique local recipes.

Various types of Dumpling or Wonton (served with hot oil and pepper paste) called chāo shǒu Sichuan Hot pot, called Chuan Chuan Xiang Twice Cooked Pork Pepper Beef Mapo doufu Diced Rabbit in Hot Pepper Oil Frog Hotpot Fried Eel with Hot Peppers Turtle Soup Duck in a Hot Pepper Oil Tea Infused Duck Sichuan DanDan Mian - spicyChinese noodles Various Types of Tea Babe Toufu (best in Fushun county and countryside) Unique dishes include:

Fried rice-field frog with fresh pepper (very spicy pepper) (This dish is illegal) Rice-field frog chicken soup (only a few family knows how to make this soup) Try the night food market along the roads (Tongxing Lu), and remember best food are cooked at local's home.

If you go you must try all of the street food and small on the side breakfast places at like 5am to truly get the full experience. P.S. the food stalls at night are so much better than in the day.


 * Rice cake (米糕)：It is a classic snack of Zigong, belonging to one of people's favorite breakfast, which is made of glutinous rice soaked up, then rolled out into fine noodles with a stone mill, and fermented by natural fermentation, and finally steamed in a steamer for consumption. Its flavor is natural glutinous rice fragrance, sweet with aftertaste, suitable for both young and old.
 * Fushun douhua (富顺豆花)：It is a local specialty snack of Fushun County, Zigong City, and the main ingredient is high-quality soybeans. Its flavor is moist, loose and crispy, with a strong aroma. Fushun douhua is a simply processed food among the soybean products consumed in conjunction with tender douhua, douhua seasoning, and rice.
 * Zigong spicy rabbit (自贡冷吃兔)：Stir-frying method has been improved, the combination of stir-frying and deep-frying in the twenty-four techniques of Sichuan cuisine, and combined with the "collection" of cold dishes, cooking now bright color, crisp and not sheep.
 * Small fried chicken (小煎鸡)：Small Fried Chicken for Zigong household name of a local specialty dishes, the child chicken do not have to pick the bones, chopped into small pieces, with the bones and meat plus chili and seasonings together with the fried.

Drink
Zigong Cellar Liquor (自贡窖酒) Crafted using local water, wheat, and other ingredients, employing traditional brewing techniques.

Zigong Old Cellar Liquor (自贡老窖) A well-known brand of Baijiu (white spirit) from Zigong.

Connect

 * Area code: 0813
 * Postal code：643000
 * Administrative Subdivision code: 510300