Located in Zigong City, Sichuan Province, the Xiqin Guild Hall is a magnificent complex of ancient buildings that now houses the Zigong Salt Industry History Museum. Originally constructed in 1736, it served as a gathering place for wealthy salt merchants from Shaanxi province who conducted business in the Zigong area. The construction of the guild hall, also known as the Guandi Hall, took sixteen years to complete.

The Xiqin Guild Hall is a celebrated example of Qing dynasty architecture and is designated as a Major Historical and Cultural Site of China. Its design features elaborate flying eaves and a gilded, intricately carved wooden interior. The splendid exterior and exquisite internal structure, including delicate stone and wood carvings, exemplified the advanced architectural technology of its time and symbolized the immense wealth of the salt merchants. The interior boasts a large galleried atrium, which was once the setting for theatrical performances, and a spacious courtyard with a central stone carving of a dragon and phoenix.

In March 1959, the Xiqin Guild Hall was repurposed to become the Zigong Salt Industry History Museum, the only museum in China dedicated to the history of the country's well salt production. The museum's exhibits chronicle the 2,000-year history of salt mining in China, dating back to the Han dynasty. It displays a vast collection of historical relics, samples, and photographs related to well drilling, brine lifting, salt making, and natural gas mining.

A significant part of the museum's collection includes 1,322 artifacts and tools, with a unique and treasured display of over 130 different types of ancient Chinese well-salt drilling tools, represented by more than 500 individual pieces. Large-scale murals within the museum depict the evolution of mining, salt production, and natural gas utilization, showcasing the ingenuity and engineering prowess of ancient China. The museum's displays on deep-well drilling technology have been recognized by international historians of science and technology as one of China's significant inventions.

The Xiqin Guild Hall stands as a testament to the prosperous history of the salt trade in Zigong and serves as a vital center for the preservation and study of China's industrial heritage.