The museum is situated in the historic Xiqin Guildhall (Chinese: 西秦会馆), originally built between 1736 and 1752 by salt merchants from Shaanxi,[1] during the Qing dynasty, under the reign of the Qianlong Emperor.

The exterior of the guild hall building features elaborate flying eaves and a gilded wooden carved interior based around a large galleried atrium where plays were once performed.

The museum's exhibits span the entire history of salt mining in China, dating back to the Han dynasty.

The Zigong area, located within the Sichuan Basin, became a center of salt production, particularly through the technique of drilling into brine aquifers, a method extensively developed by the Song dynasty.

These techniques included percussive drilling, the use of advanced derricks, specialized bits, and flexible tubing, as well as methods for retrieving lost tools and managing well repairs.