Zigong

Zigong (Chinese: 自贡, tsih-kung), formed by the merger of the two former towns of Ziliujing (Tzuliuching, literally "self-flow well") and Gongjing (Kungching, literally "offering well"), is a prefecture-level city in Sichuan, Southwestern China. According to the 2020 Chinese census, the prefecture-level city of Zigong has a population of 2,489,256 inhabitants, less than its population in 2010 (the average annual population growth for the period 2010–2020 was of -0.73%). However, the built-up (or metro) area, consisting of the 4 urban districts, grew, with 1,297,695 inhabitants (1,262,064 in 2010). The area of Zigong has a long history in ancient China - with the invention and development of "Percussion Drilling rig" being one of the city's accomplishments. Zigong is famous for its abundant production of well salt and is known as the "Salt Capital".The production of well salt in the Zigong area originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty, was famous in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and flourished in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.There are essentially two cities - that of the old and the new. The city was reached by rail in the 1950s. Several four-lane highways reach the city from other cities in the Sichuan province. The new city of Zigong has been modernizing since the late 1970s - but more rapidly since the early 1990s. The old "Salt" city is based on industry and farmland and a new "Tourism" city which caters primarily to Chinese tourists (as Zigong is better known within mainland China). Zigong is host to the Sichuan University of Science and Engineering as well as a new High Technology Zone.