Shenhai Salt Well
燊海井
The world's first man-made well deeper than 1,000 metres, drilled in 1835. It still produces brine and makes salt using traditional methods, a living heritage of the salt-well industry.
Shenhai Well is located in Ruanjiaba, Da'an District. It was drilled in the 15th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing dynasty (1835). At 1,001.42 metres deep, it was the first artificially drilled well in the world to exceed 1,000 metres, decades ahead of comparable Western drilling technology. It is listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. The complete traditional salt-making process is still preserved here. Visitors can see the tall wooden derrick frame, cars pulled by oxen or machines to draw up brine, brine pipes and rows of round iron pans heated by natural gas in the boiling house, where white “flower salt” is made. Visitors can watch the entire process from drawing brine to producing salt up close, and buy the salt boiled on site. Tickets start at about RMB 25 (prices subject to on-site announcement). Getting there: a taxi from the city centre takes about 15 minutes. It can be combined into a day trip with the Dinosaur Museum and the Salt Industry History Museum. Note: the boiling house is hot and the floor is slippery, so watch your step. Do not touch the salt pans.
Opening hours
About 08:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Zigong Lantern Park & China Lantern Museum
- Xiqin Guild Hall (Zigong Salt Industry History Museum)
- Huanhou Palace
- Wangye Temple
- Zigong Dinosaur Museum
- Fantawild Dinosaur Kingdom
- Zigong Chinese Lantern World
- Jiang Jie's Hometown