Zigong - Geography

Geography

Zigong is located in the Sichuan Basin, and has an area extension of 4,372.6 km². Granted the recognition as one of the Historical and Cultural Cities of China by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. Zigong has long been renowned as "Salt City" for its brine extraction techniques and the attendant salt-related culture. In ancient China, Salt was regarded as the energy for body and valued higher even than Gold. Therefore, salt trading was always the most profitable business and salt merchants were the wealthiest people. Hence, Zigong had always been one of the richest cities in China until the founding of People's Republic of China with the introduction of new salt producing methods and advancing of technologies. It has had the Zigong Salt Museum since 1736.

The Fuxi River, a tributary to the Yangtze River, snakes through the city's core. The area is very humid and the visibility can be reduced dramatically in the area due to ground fog. The humidity and fog of Zigong can be attributed to that it sits on what was once a vast inland sea. Changes in the environment caused the water levels to subside leaving salt, brine, and natural gas.

During the summer months, the temperatures can reach as high as 40°C (104°F); during the winter months the temperatures hover around 15.5°C (60°F). The humidity hovers between 80% and 90% year round.

Using the coordinates link, one can find aerial photographic views, satellite imagery, night views, and road maps: Coordinates: (29°20′6.60″N 104°46′25.39″E / 29.335167°N 104.7737194°E / 29.335167; 104.7737194)

Zigong is situated south of the Sichuan basin hill country. To the east of Zigong is Luzhou and to the west of Zigong is Leshan. To Zigong's south is Yibin and to the north-east is the city of Neijiang.