The Qiantang tunnel borer starts operating on Jan 12. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The "Qiantang" shield machine roared into life on Jan 12 – marking the start of the tunneling of the Qiantang River section of the massive Hangzhou International Airport high-speed rail project.

When complete, it will be the first high-speed rail tunnel in East China's Zhejiang province to cross the Qiantang River at its capital of Hangzhou, with a design speed capacity of up to 350 kilometers per hour.

Spanning 85 km and connecting Jiaxing, Hangzhou and Shaoxing, the Hangzhou airport high-speed rail project is a cornerstone of Zhejiang's infrastructure ambitions.

Its 5.3-km Qiantang River tunnel is the project's most challenging section, with a maximum depth of 49 meters and pressure resistance of up to 4.5 bar, running just 43 meters from an existing road tunnel and through complex terrain.

To tackle these challenges, the custom-designed "Qiantang" tunnel-boring machine, weighing 4,800 metric tons and at 145 meters long, incorporates cutting-edge technology, including pressure-balancing modes and precision monitoring systems.

On completion, the tunnel will enhance Hangzhou's rail hub by linking the Hangzhou east wing to key railways – including the Shanghai-Hangzhou and Hangzhou-Ningbo lines – while also supporting air-rail integration with direct connections to Hangzhou International Airport and major airports in Shanghai and Ningbo.

The tunnel embodies Hangzhou's vision of becoming an international transportation hub – streamlining passenger and cargo movements while boosting regional economic growth.

Engineers closely monitor the operation of the tunnel borer. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]