Xiqin Guild Hall

Xiqin Guild Hall

The Xiqin Guild Hall is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Located on Jiefang Road in Ziliujing District, Zigong City, the Xiqin Guild Hall stands against the scenic Longfeng Mountain to the rear and faces the bustling downtown area in front. Its grand halls and uniquely shaped architecture are striking. In January 1988, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The Zigong Salt Industry History Museum is housed within the guild hall.

The Xiqin Guild Hall, also known as Wusheng Palace, primarily enshrines the deity Guan Yu and is also called Guan Di Temple, commonly referred to as the Shaanxi Temple. In the early Qing Dynasty, merchants from Shaanxi came to Ziliujing to engage in the salt trade, amassing great wealth. To “reconnect with fellow provincials” and showcase their prosperity, they began constructing the hall in the first year of the Qianlong reign (1736), taking 16 years to complete it in the 17th year of Qianlong (1752). Between the 7th and 8th years of the Daoguang reign (1827–1828), large-scale renovations and expansions were carried out, “extending the site by over ten zhang and opening a new main hall against the mountain,” making it “more magnificent than before.” It now covers an area of 3,451 square meters. This is a relatively typical example of traditional Chinese architecture, featuring a generally square layout, emphasis on symmetry, and a clear central axis. Major structures are arranged along the central axis, surrounded by corridors, walls, and other buildings forming five courtyards of varying sizes with depth, layering, and grandeur.

The main decorative features of the Xiqin Guild Hall are its wood and stone carvings, which are found throughout the complex, numbering in the hundreds. Notable among them are the carvings on structures such as the Stone Lion, Xiante, Jinyong, and Ben’gu towers. The stone lions at the gate stand 2.27 meters tall, with bulging eyes, protruding noses, curly manes, sharp claws, and their bodies twisted outward as they stare at each other, mouths open in a roar, exuding a commanding presence. The wood carvings at Xiante, Jinyong, and Ben’gu are concentrated along a 22.3-meter-long wooden railing just 6.7 centimeters wide, featuring more than 350 figures. The carvings are well-spaced and executed with crisp craftsmanship. Additionally, the wood carvings on beams, bracket arms, cantilever beams, pendant flowers, and railings depict mythological tales, historical stories, scenes of social life, dramatic moments, flowers,

birds, still lifes—all masterfully carved with exquisite detail and lifelike precision, remaining vividly clear to this day.

Before liberation, the Xiqin Guild Hall served as the seat of the Zigong Municipal Government under the Republic of China and fell into disrepair over time, nearly collapsing. After liberation, this grand ancient structure finally returned to the hands of the people.

During the period when the Zigong People's Committee used the building for office space, efforts were made to protect and maintain the architecture. In the spring of 1959, when central leaders including [name redacted] visited the Xiqin Guild Hall, they repeatedly instructed that it be well preserved.

In light of these concerns and recognizing that the Xiqin Guild Hall itself is a historical relic reflecting the development of Zigong’s salt fields and industry—possessing significant scientific and artistic value—it was selected to house the “Zigong Salt Industry History Museum.” Following comprehensive restoration and rational layout, the museum displays a variety of ancient drilling, well maintenance, and salvage tools. Modern techniques such as sound, light, and electricity are employed to authentically recreate

the evolution and transformation of well salt production technology in the millennia-old Salt Capital.

Protected Area: Within the park walls of the Xiqin Guild Hall, including the adjacent Xiqin Club and parts of the area behind the guild hall.

Construction Control Zone: Southwest boundary: along the Fuxi River road edge; southeast boundary: to the southeastern foothills of Longfeng Mountain; northeast boundary: to the northern entrance of Longfeng Mountain; northwest boundary: to the road west of the Zigong Electric Power Bureau.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units