2025 Gongjing District Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in June)

Six months later, I revisited the Dongyuan Well Ancient Salt Field and was very fortunate to listen to the explanations and discussions of three teachers, Liu Hanchao, Liang Yuanyue, and Chen Xingsheng. I gained a deeper understanding of the layout, production process, and technology of Dongyuan Well and the ancient salt fields of Zigong. Dongyuan Well was founded in the eighth year of Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1858) and completed in the eighteenth year of Guangxu reign (1892). This ancient salt field consists of a wooden tipper house, a wooden engine house, a river crossing house, a well center, a stone gas pipeline, and a cashier's room. Dongyuan Well was drilled using percussion cable-tool drilling technology. Since 1892, it has maintained a record of high and stable production, ranking first among the gas wells in the Zigong salt field. In March 2013, Dongyuan Well was listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Site.

The originally planned rainy walk to Aiye Shatang Peninsula turned into a journey within the boundaries of Neijiang. Starting from Aiye Cinema, crossing the Beihuan Road bridge tunnel, entering Meng'ao Village, and following the Zhongxi River downstream, then to the old street of Gongjing and returning to the urban area via Zhongqiao. The misty countryside scenery added a touch of poetry. There is still a dilapidated mansion by the Zhongxi River, the majestic Meng'ao Dam during the flood season, and the ruins of the Aiye Baishu Village Primary School. Unexpectedly, a lost historical site by the Zhongxi River was verified. According to the Republic of China's 'Rong County Chronicles,' the Deng Wang's Memorial Archway, built in the 35th year of Qianlong's reign near Shengshui Temple in Gongjing, was located in the current Baishu Village Team 1.

Yesterday afternoon, as soon as I reached Zhong Bridge, a heavy rain welcomed me, instantly switching to a rain-walking mode. Treading on the ancient stone path from He Street to Jinliu Well, then along the country road through Xihuan Road into Gongjing Old Street, and finally ending at Ping Bridge. Walking in the rain through Gongjing Old Street, the splashing raindrops, the wet trouser legs, the mottled old walls, the slippery stone slabs, the indigo tiles, the drip-drip of rainwater from the eaves, the old street in the misty rain is even more serene and aesthetically beautiful.

After the rain, I took a walk through Gongjing Santai Village, entering Santai from the Ma'cao Pond through the Qingshui Pond along the ruins of the Zigong Porcelain Factory. The industrial buildings under the blue sky and white clouds have a unique charm. Qingshui Pond is a sizable pond that has been named on old maps from the Republic of China era, and judging from its location, it might have been connected to the Zhongqiao ancient path in the past. Up the hill from Qingshui Pond is the Santai Pear Orchard, and for some reason, the pear blossoms are blooming a bit late this year. After the baptism of the spring rain, the sky's visibility is extremely high, and standing on the mountain of Santai, one can gaze far into the distance. Not only can you take in the rural scenery at the edge of Neijiang, but the mountain ranges of Weiyuan County in the distance are also faintly visible. The Chaotian Temple and Da'an Fort in the direction of Da'an are also within sight, unexpectedly offering a viewing platform for the Gongjing area.

Nanhua Saw Factory in Zigong City is one of the 22 third-line enterprises that moved to Zigong City during the third-line construction period, and is the 'leader' of Zigong City's hardware manufacturing enterprises, contributing to the economic and social development of Zigong City. With the changes of the times and the adjustment of industrial structure, more than ten years ago, Zigong Nanhua Saw Factory gradually withdrew from the historical stage. Nowadays, some buildings are preserved at the original site of Zigong Nanhua Saw Factory and reinforced design is carried out to reproduce the 'third-line enterprise' brand culture, reshape and restore the Nanhua scene, and transform it into a car culture industrial park with a sense of the times, creating a new sample for the transformation and upgrading of Zigong industrial buildings.