China has achieved a landmark engineering feat as its domestically developed 'Shenjiang No. 1' tunnel boring machine set a world record this week, constructing the deepest underwater high-speed rail tunnel at 113 meters below sea level. The breakthrough comes as part of the ambitious Shenzhen-Jiangmen Railway project in the Pearl River estuary, a critical infrastructure initiative for enhancing connectivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The colossal 116-meter-long machine operates through a sophisticated process: its rotating cutterhead pulverizes rock and soil at pressures equivalent to 10 standard atmospheres, while workers simultaneously install 2-meter-wide concrete lining segments to reinforce the tunnel walls. Engineers recently confirmed the machine has advanced over 4 kilometers, with the final section reaching 116 meters underwater – a depth requiring precision engineering to withstand unprecedented hydraulic pressures.
Upon completion in late 2027, the 116-kilometer railway will reduce travel time between Shenzhen and Jiangmen from 90 minutes to 30 minutes, significantly boosting economic integration across one of Asia's most dynamic regions. The project demonstrates China's growing expertise in mega-infrastructure development, particularly in challenging marine environments.
