China's self-developed tunnel boring machine (TBM) with the biggest diameter on Friday achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 3,000 meters in its excavation of a large-scale tunneling project under the Yangtze River, showcasing the country's growing construction capabilities featuring high-speed and intelligent techniques.
The machine, with a maximum excavation diameter of 16.64 meters, was developed jointly by the China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (CRCHI) and China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd. It is 145 meters long and about 5,000 tons in weight. Its circular cutter's diameter is equivalent to a five or six-story building.
Under the waters of the Yangtze River estuary, the TBM is currently advancing at an impressive average speed of 600 meters per month. This remarkable progress is made possible by the application of a fully upgraded intelligent system in the TBM.
Inside the operator's cabin of the TBM, what once required two or three personnel to manage is now overseen by nobody. A nearby worker can control the entire excavation process with just a flick of a finger, allowing for fully automated and intelligent tunneling operations.
"The previous smart excavation methods primarily focused on controlling the posture of the TBM, requiring manual coordination across various systems. Now, we have all the systems linked together. This makes the process more precise, efficient, and safe," said Xu Weiqing, project manager for the Chongming-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Tunnel.
Notably, the tunnel lining segments are produced using China's first fully digital production line, increasing efficiency by 20 percent. Furthermore, with the help of self-developed intelligent assembly robots, tunnel components can be assembled automatically at the push of a button, achieving a precision control of up to 0.5 millimeters.
In addition, the intelligent upgrades extend across nine major systems involved in the construction of the TBM tunnel, enhancing processes from design and perception to transportation.
"The nine major systems utilized in tunnel construction have rapidly advanced due to the widespread application of intelligent technologies. This has propelled tunnel excavation engineering forward and ushered in a new phase in tunnel construction technology," said Xie Lili, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The Chongming-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Tunnel, spanning a total length of 14.25 kilometers and connecting Chongming District in Shanghai with Taicang City in east China's Jiangsu Province, features a shield section measuring 13.20 kilometers. Designed for speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, it is expected to be operational by the second half of 2029. Upon completion, the tunnel is poised to enable seamless high-speed train crossings under the Yangtze River, holding significant importance for driving development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.
Innovative tunneling machine propels China's modern construction
NPC Deputies from east China's Jiangsu Province vowed to make greater contributions to the overall development of the nation after Chinese President Xi Jinping joined them in group deliberations on Thursday.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, took part in the deliberation with his fellow deputies from Jiangsu during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature.
During the discussions, deputies from various sectors shared their experiences and spoke on a wide range of topics, including agriculture, technological and industrial innovation, education and talent training, and rural governance.
"I felt extremely excited today to be able to meet face-to-face with the General Secretary and report to him on Huai'an's economic and social development over the past two years. In recent years, we have vigorously cultivated the development of the crayfish industry in line with the requirements for developing local specialty products. In Xuyi County, one-sixth of the population is engaged in this profession. When I reported to the General Secretary a moment ago, I shared some good news with him. The 'Xuyi No. 1' crayfish has achieved growth of more than 18 percent in both yield per mu (about 0.067 hectare) and individual weight. Crayfish farming has provided more employment opportunities for our labor force and promoted income growth for residents," said Shi Zhijun, secretary of the CPC Huai'an Municipal Committee.
"I reported to the General Secretary on the integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation. The General Secretary attached great care for Soochow University. For our emerging industries and future industries, one important focus is developing commercial aerospace. We are now working together with industry partners to address this issue, hoping that Soochow University will achieve coordinated development with Suzhou's social economy in the future, and make greater contributions particularly to developing new quality productive forces," said Zhang Xiaohong, Party Secretary of Soochow University.
"I reported to the General Secretary on the achievements our team has made in breeding wheat resistant to Fusarium head blight. We have successively developed highly resistant varieties including Yangmai 33 and Yangmai 53, covering two directions of high-quality wheat development. Chinese bowls must be filled with Chinese grain. We must continue our efforts to ensure stable growth of national grain production and guarantee food security," said Gao Derong, a researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences for Lixiahe Region under the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
"Today, I feel extremely honored and excited to report to the General Secretary on the changes and development of our Desheng Village over the years. The General Secretary inquired about Party organization building, industrial development, social development, and environmental governance. For rural areas, we must first develop industries so that people can benefit substantially from this process. Meanwhile, the building of civilized rural customs must be advanced in parallel," said Yang Hengjun, head of Desheng's village committee.
In the deliberation, Xi has called on economic powerhouses like Jiangsu to redouble efforts to gain experience in analyzing new situations and solving new problems.
Deputies say they will implement the General Secretary's instructions and strive to make new achievements. "Today, the General Secretary, on the one hand, spoke positively of Jiangsu's contributions as an economic powerhouse, shouldering heavy responsibilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. On the other hand, he put forward new requirements for Jiangsu in terms of developing new quality productive forces in line with local conditions to enhance economic resilience, and in continuously strengthening common prosperity for the people. As an NPC deputy, I will earnestly study and implement the General Secretary's important instructions upon my return, so that Huai'an's modernization process can advance on a more solid foundation," Shi said.
"Universities, especially research universities, as national strategic scientific and technological forces, must do well in basic research and application. As an important base for talent cultivation, we must establish mechanisms for integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, and cultivate top innovative talents. We will implement the General Secretary's instructions through these efforts," Zhang said.
NPC deputies from Jiangsu vow to make greater contributions in national development
