The Guangzhou-Huadu Intercity Railway, also known as the Guanghua Intercity, has achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the "Yangcheng" shield tunneling machine. 

This shield tunneling machine, named after the city of Guangzhou, began its journey from Fangshi Station on Nov 2, following 46 days of assembly and testing. The tunnel section between Fangshi and Baifang spans approximately 1,850 meters, with the shallowest cover being around 8.74 meters.

The "Yangcheng" shield tunneling machine. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]

The tunnel, which features a single-bore double-track design, is the first in Guangzhou's rail transit system. The "Yangcheng" shield tunneling machine, weighing 3,350 metric tons and with a maximum excavation diameter of 13.56 meters, is equipped with C50 reinforced concrete lining segments.

The construction site of Guangzhou-Huadu Intercity Railway Project. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]

The Guanghua Intercity Railway starts at Guangzhou East Railway Station on Line 18, passes through key areas such as Jingxi Road, Baiyun Dongping, and Baiyun City Center, and ends at Huachengjie Railway Station in Huadu. The line will feature seven new stations over a length of 39.6 kilometers, with a design speed of 160 km per hour. Currently, 33 percent of the civil engineering work has been completed, with one station entirely capped and six others under construction. The project is expected to enhance connectivity and convenience for residents in the Greater Bay Area.