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The Shenhaijing Salt Well in Zigong, Sichuan, China, completed in 1835, was the first artificially drilled well to exceed 1,000 meters using bamboo tools and human power. This well exemplifies the region's long history of salt production, essential for preservation, taxation, and trade.

Zigong developed around inland brine, with early salt wells dating back over 2,000 years. By the Tang and Song dynasties, drilling technology advanced with bamboo casings and wooden derricks. The region's natural gas, released during brine extraction, was used to fuel the evaporation process. By the Qing dynasty, Zigong was known as the