Da'an District 大安区

History

In 1912 the area lay within the eastern salt districts of the Furong salt field (富荣盐场). Its old name, Dafenbao (大坟堡), 'big-grave fort', was changed to Dawenbao (大文堡) in 1941; in 1955 the city judged the old name unsuitable and the province approved the name Da'an. Rebels led by Li Yonghe (李永和) and Lan Chaoding (兰朝鼎), who rose in Yunnan in 1859, later made Niufo (牛佛镇) their capital. The salt gentry of Ziliujing (自流井), a town without walls, fought them in the 'Battle of Da'an Fort' (大安寨之战) at the end of the Xianfeng reign and built the fort of Sanduozhai (三多寨) against them.

What to see

Shenhai Well (燊海井) at Changyantang was drilled in 1835 with the percussion method invented in the Song and reached 1,001.42 metres, making it the first well in the world to pass 1,000 metres; it still yields natural gas and has been a national key cultural relics site since 1988.

The Zigong Dinosaur Museum (自贡恐龙博物馆) at Dashanpu (大山铺) opened in 1987 on top of the Dashanpu dinosaur fossil site. A basement area of about 350 square metres keeps an excavation in place with the bones of 17 dinosaurs from the Jurassic, and a mounted Omeisaurus tianfuensis (天府峨嵋龙) is about 20 metres long.

Zhonghua Lantern World (中华彩灯大世界), a 4A scenic area in the city's eastern new town, has been the permanent home of the Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival since 2020. The district government names Da'an as the hometown of Jiang Zhujun (江竹筠) and lists a 'Sister Jiang' (江姐) hometown red education base.

Food and local products

The district government calls Da'an an important birthplace of salt-merchant cuisine (盐帮菜), the cooking of Zigong and other towns of the Tuo River basin such as Fushun (富顺) and Longchang (隆昌). Da'an braised beef (大安烧牛肉) began here, reached Chongqing during the Second World War and later the air force village at Gangshan in Kaohsiung, where it became a source of Taiwanese beef noodles. Niufo slow-braised pork hock (牛佛烘肘) is listed among the salt-merchant dishes, and 'Da'an chicken' (大安肉鸡) is on the national register of distinctive farm products.

Getting oriented

Da'an borders Longchang (隆昌) to the east, Fushun (富顺) and Yantan (沿滩区) to the south, Gongjing (贡井区) and Weiyuan (威远) to the west, and Weiyuan and Dongxing (东兴区) in Neijiang (内江) to the north. Niufo, one of its towns, is the site of Zigong's port on the Tuo River (沱江).

Highlights

• Shenhai Well 燊海井: Drilled in 1835 to 1,001.42 m, the first well over 1,000 m; a national key site since 1988.
• Zigong Dinosaur Museum 自贡恐龙博物馆: Opened in 1987 over the Dashanpu fossil site, with 17 Jurassic dinosaurs left in place.
• Zhonghua Lantern World 中华彩灯大世界: Permanent venue of the Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival since 2020.
• Da'an braised beef 大安烧牛肉: Originated in Da'an and became a source of Taiwanese beef noodles.
• Niufo slow-braised pork hock 牛佛烘肘: Listed among salt-merchant dishes.