Famous people include: Sima Xiangru, Pu Fuzhou, Hai Deng, Li Youxing.

Zitong County comprises 15 towns and 1 township:[2] Zitong has three historical sites listed in the official list of Chinese national historic sites.

:[3] Zitong, like neighbouring counties, was located near the epicentre of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

[4] Infrastructures in Zitong was partly destroyed, and drinking water was not available.

Also the Qiqushan Temple, who is since 1996 on the official list of Chinese national historical sites was partly destroyed by the earthquake.