1988 Trip to City of Zigong, Sichuan

3. Zigong Sha'anxi Guild Hall, Sichuan

During the year of Emperor Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty, large numbers of tradesmen, most of them from Sha'anxi Province came to this "richest city and the cream of Sichuan" Zigong to deal with the salt business. For the purpose of flaunting their achievements and entertaining their relatives, the tradesmen of Sha'anxi jointly raised money to build a guild hall for themselves. The work began in the year of 1736 A.D. and lasted for sixteen years. It cost over fifty thousand Lian of silver (about 4,400 pounds). Designed in the style of the royal palace of the Qing Dynasty, it is a magnificent sight to behold. We enjoyed the visit and the exquisite interiors.

They constructed the Guildhall in a style reminiscent of some of the more extravagant private residences within Beijing's Forbidden City, and today stands in sharp contrast to Zigong's more modern facades. Sharply curved eases, complicated roofs, and delicate wood carvings and tiling mark the building as distinct. The Guildhall now houses a fascinating salt museum, which eloquently traces the history of the industry from its Han-era inception to the present-day vacuum-evaporation techniques.