Zigong's "Salt-Dragon-Lantern" Cultural Tourism Card Shines at the 2025 Global Panda Partners Conference
From November 20 to 22, Zigong's "Salt-Dragon-Lantern" cultural tourism card made a dazzling appearance at the 2025 Global Panda Partners Conference. Imagine this: a city with a legacy as ancient as its salt wells, as dynamic as its dinosaurs, and as radiant as its lanterns, stepping into the global spotlight.
On the main forum held on November 21, the demonstration projects for the integrated development of culture and tourism were unveiled, and Zigong City found itself on the prestigious list. In the realm of cultural and tourism integration, Zigong has forged a distinctive path. It's a model driven by the dynamic duo of industrial clusters and internationalization, spearheaded by the three world-class IPs of "Salt-Dragon-Lantern." Public services have been optimized through the innovative concept of "shared enjoyment by hosts and guests," giving birth to a spectrum of diverse experience scenarios, from intelligent bionic dinosaur parades to integrated cultural, commercial, and tourism fairs. In 2024, Zigong City welcomed a staggering 56 million tourists, raking in a tourism revenue of 55.577 billion yuan. A triumph, indeed!
At the Sino-foreign Cultural Tourism Exchange and Mutual Learning Conference on November 22, the Zigong promoter "Guan Guan" took the stage. With the theme "A Thousand Years of Charm in Zigong, Enjoying the City's Radiance," Guan Guan served as a cultural ambassador, inviting the world to explore "the millennium salt capital, the hometown of dinosaurs, the city of lanterns, and the capital of delicacies." It was a journey through time and wonder, encapsulated in a single presentation.
In "the millennium salt capital" Zigong, the quest for the source of salt beckons. Picture this: visitors standing at Shenhai Well, witnessing the ancient art of salt-making that has endured for centuries. A short stroll away, the Salt Industry History Museum stands as a guardian of knowledge, where the national intangible cultural heritage "Zigong deep well salt drilling and drawing skills" comes alive. And when the curtain of night falls, what better way to end the day than aboard the "Night Cruise of Fuxi" paddle steamer? Sampling salt gang snacks, listening to the soulful salt workers' ballads, and immersing oneself in the unhurried rhythm of the salt capital-it's an experience that lingers long after the night fades.
In "the hometown of dinosaurs" Zigong, the allure of prehistory calls. At the Zigong Dinosaur Museum, one can reach out and touch the skeletal remnants of these ancient behemoths. Step into the Jurassic scene, and the prehistoric earth springs to life, transporting you back millions of years. Up close and personal with fossil restoration, visitors can even take on the "fossil puzzle challenge," piecing together the past with their own hands. At Fantawild Dinosaur Kingdom, the 4D cinema offers a thrilling ride through the dinosaur valley on the wings of a "pterosaur." Adventure vehicles plunge deep into the earth's core, where dinosaurs roam and monsters lurk, challenging your wits and courage. And bionic dinosaur robots? They're not just attractions-they're living, breathing parts of the city's landscape.
In "the city of lanterns" Zigong, the radiance of light awaits. Beyond the "tall, large, new, strange, and unique" colored lanterns, there's a world of interactive experiences. The Chinese Lantern Museum is a treasure trove, where the origins of lanterns and the finest works of bygone eras are unveiled. At the lantern intangible cultural heritage workshop, visitors don't just observe-they create. Making, painting, and lighting lanterns with their own hands, they carry home more than just souvenirs-they carry home the "romance of light and shadow," with the intangible cultural heritage shining brightly in their grasp.
In "the capital of delicacies" Zigong, the salt gang feast is a sensory symphony. The cuisine, with its "numbing, spicy, fresh, fragrant, and tender" flavors, is a culinary signature etched into the very soul of Zigong. In a humble street-side eatery, the cold-eaten rabbit grows more delectable with each bite, and the fire-side beef becomes a flavor revelation. "Eating salty and seeing lightly"-this phrase encapsulates more than just a diet; it reflects the city's philosophy of life, a blend of indulgence and simplicity that defines Zigong's unique charm.
