TZU-KUNG

Pinyin Zigong, city in central Szechwan Province (sheng), China. Tzu-kung is a prefecture-level municipality (shih), which was formed in 1939 by the merger of Kung-chinga great salt-producing district with a history dating to the 7th century ADand the rapidly developing town of Tzu-liu-ching. The city is situated on the Ching Ho (river), a tributary of the T'o Chiang (river), and the area is connected by rail to Nei-chiang and by highway to such surrounding cities as Le-shan and Lu-chou. Tzu-kung's prosperity was long dependent on its salt industry; deep drilling for brine has been an established practice in the area since the 9th century. In recent times important deposits of oil and natural gas have also been discovered and exploited. Natural gas had already been in use since early times as a fuel to evaporate the brine. On the basis of its salt production, Tzu-kung has built up a large and varied chemical industry, producing potassium chloride, bromine, iodine, barium salts, and other products. Fertilizers are another important by-product, and Tzu-kung salt is used extensively by the chemical works at nearby Le-shan. Tzu-kung also has engineering works, and there is a power generating plant using coal from Le-shan and from Huang-chin-k'ou further north. Pop. (1980 UN est.) 738,000.