01Food District
Aiye Ancient Town
艾叶古镇
All Ages
Admission
Free entry.
Typical Visit
1.5-2.5 hours
Quick Facts
Ticket
CNY 118 standard adult ticket for the 2026 lantern season; selected child and senior tickets are listed at CNY 80.
Hours
The 2026 lantern season closes after operations on June 10, 2026. Until then: Sun-Thu 17:00-22:30, last entry 22:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-23:00, last entry 22:30.
Transport
No metro. Event shuttles and Bus 11 lantern-service routes operate around major event periods; taxi or DiDi is simpler after late evening departures.
Duration
3-5 hours
Best Time
Lantern-season evenings; enter before full darkness for easier routing
Visitors
All ages
How to Visit
1
Confirm that the current season is still operating
The 2026 lantern season is scheduled to close after operations on June 10, 2026. After that date, the park enters a rest and preparation period for the next lantern season.
Tip:This is a seasonal night attraction, not a guaranteed year-round evening plan.
2
Arrive before the main lights are fully on
Enter around 17:00-18:00 if possible. You can see the lantern structures in daylight, then watch the park change after the lights come on around dusk.
Tip:Arriving only after dinner makes the route more crowded and shortens the visit.
3
Use a one-way route through the main lantern zones
Start from the entrance that matches your transport drop-off, then move steadily through the major themed areas instead of walking back and forth for individual photos.
Tip:The park is large enough that repeated backtracking can waste an hour.
4
Save your best photo time for full darkness
Use the first hour to orient yourself and the 19:00-21:00 window for the strongest light effects, crowd movement, and large lantern groups.
Tip:The best-looking section is not always the first one near the gate.
5
Plan the exit before the final crowd
Ride-hailing demand and shuttle queues rise near closing. If you are returning to Chengdu or another city the same night, leave enough buffer before your train.
Tip:The return trip is the part most visitors underestimate.
Highlights
- Zigong's largest lantern-season site
- Large-scale lantern groups tied to Chinese myths and festival themes
- Best experienced from dusk into full darkness
- Good family evening plan if walking stamina is realistic
- Useful pairing with daytime salt-history or dinosaur sites
Insider Tips
✦Wear comfortable shoes; the main route is long.
✦Do not rely on late taxis appearing immediately at the gate.
✦Bring a power bank if you plan to take many photos.
✦Food inside is convenient but not the best place to judge Zigong cuisine.
✦Avoid adding another heavy night activity after this visit.
More Zigong Attractions
02Cultural Stop
Chinese Lantern Museum
中国彩灯博物馆
All Ages
Admission
Free entry with reservation.
Typical Visit
45-90 minutes
03City 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
04City 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
05City 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
06Historic 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