01Food District
Aiye Ancient Town
艾叶古镇
All Ages
Admission
Free entry.
Typical Visit
1.5-2.5 hours
Quick Facts
Ticket
Free entry with reservation.
Hours
Tue-Sun 09:00-17:30; last entry is 17:00. Closed on Mondays except legal holidays.
Transport
No metro. Located inside Colored Lantern Park at Gongyuan Road 6 (公园路6号); taxi or DiDi is the easiest city-center access.
Duration
45-90 minutes
Best Time
Year-round; useful before visiting Lantern City of China
Visitors
All ages
How to Visit
1
Reserve before going to the park
Entry is free, but the museum uses reservation channels. If you arrive during a quiet period, staff may guide you to reserve on-site.
Tip:Free does not always mean walk-in without a code.
2
Use it as the context stop for Zigong lanterns
The museum explains lantern history, craft methods, exhibition traditions, and why Zigong became known for lantern making.
Tip:It works well before an evening visit to Lantern City of China.
3
Keep the visit compact
Most travelers only need 45-90 minutes. Read the craft and history sections, then continue to Colored Lantern Park or the old center.
Tip:Do not plan it like a large national museum.
4
Separate this museum from the night lantern festival
The museum is a daytime cultural stop inside the old park. The large current lantern-season event is at Lantern City of China, a different site.
Tip:This distinction prevents wasted travel at night.
Highlights
- Free specialist museum about Chinese lantern culture
- Official Tue-Sun opening schedule with 17:00 last entry
- Good primer before the night lantern festival
- Located inside the older Colored Lantern Park
- Short and easy city-center stop
Insider Tips
✦Do not arrive on a normal Monday.
✦Use the museum as a daytime stop; it is not the same as the major night lantern site.
✦Allow extra time if you need help completing the reservation.
✦Pair it with Colored Lantern Park rather than making a separate trip.
✦The museum is useful even when the large lantern festival is closed.
More Zigong Attractions
02City Guide
Zigong Colored Lantern Park
自贡彩灯公园
All Ages
Admission
Free park entry. The Chinese Lantern Museum inside is also free with reservation.
Typical Visit
30-60 minutes for the park; add 45-90 minutes for the museum
03City Guide
Zigong Dinosaur Museum
自贡恐龙博物馆
All Ages
Admission
Temporarily closed as of June 7, 2026. Standard World Geopark ticket reference: CNY 40.
Typical Visit
2-3 hours after reopening
04City Guide
Fantawild Dino Kingdom
自贡方特恐龙王国
All Ages
Admission
Date-based one-day tickets. Regular adult-ticket planning number: CNY 230; selected 2026 weekend promotions have listed CNY 199.9 standard and CNY 299 for 1 adult plus 1 child.
Typical Visit
Full day
05Historic Walk
Fushun Confucian Temple
富顺文庙
All Ages
Admission
Confucian Temple CNY 30, West Lake free, combined temple-and-lake ticket CNY 40. Lower promotional prices can appear on selected ticketing dates.
Typical Visit
1.5-2.5 hours
06City Guide
Fuxi River Night Cruise
夜游釜溪
All Ages
Admission
CNY 98 adult ticket; CNY 49 student ticket; children under 1.2 m are free.
Typical Visit
About 50 minutes on the water; allow 1.5 hours with boarding