The shallow-buried tunneling method is a technique for the concealed excavation of various types of underground caverns at relatively shallow depths below the ground surface. Following the successful trial by Academician Wang Mengshu in 1984 on the loess section of the Jundushan Tunnel, the method was applied in 1986 to the pioneering, risky, and complex Beijing Fuxingmen subway turnaround line project, achieving success with minimal demolition, no disturbance to residents, and no environmental damage. At the same time, in light of China's characteristics and hydrogeological systems, the team developed the small-pipe advanced support technology, the design and manufacturing technology of the figure-eight lattice steel arch, the benching ring excavation with core soil retained construction technology, and the back-analysis calculation method using displacement measurements. They proposed the 18-character guideline of "advance pipe, strict grouting, short advance, strong support, early closure, frequent measurement," highlighting the important role of space-time effects in preventing collapse and putting forward the concept of rapid construction in soft strata. This gave rise to the shallow-buried tunneling method and established underground engineering design and construction methods suitable for soft strata.

　　"The shallow-buried tunneling method is our construction units' core expertise," said Academician Wang Mengshu. As far as underground engineering is concerned, the tunnel boring machine is large-scale mechanical equipment capable of solving many problems, but when poor geological conditions are encountered, its adaptability is poor, and it must be combined with the drill-and-blast method and the shallow-buried tunneling method.

　　At present, Academician Wang has been considering requiring construction units to gradually master this construction method. He revealed the importance of the shallow-buried tunneling method: it can effectively control the construction schedule and can smoothly pass through strata under different conditions.