As the "Tianhe 498" shield machine broke through the soil from the receiving end portal of the Qijiang Avenue station (former Qijiang New Town station), the first shield construction tunnel of the Nansha-Zhongshan Intercity Railway Zhongshan section, which is 716.2 meters long, was linked up on January 10.

Workers are removing the muck at the tunnel portal.

The slag trucks are transporting the excavated soil away during the tunneling process.

The shield machine is conducting tunneling operation.

A worker is preparing to replace the sealing grease.

Two workers are preparing for the tunnel segments assembly.

Interior of the tunnel.

Making preparations for the tunnel's joining. (Photo by Miao Xiaojian)