On the morning of October 10, the first shield tunneling machine, "Xinghuo No. 1," of the Second Division of Section II of Xi'an Metro Line 8 — Xi'an's first metro loop line — successfully launched at the Baozi Village to Yangjiazhuang section, marking the official start of shield tunneling for this contract section.

It is understood that the Second Division of Section II of Xi'an Metro Line 8 comprises one station and three sections: Baozi Village Station, the Guangtai Gate to Baozi Village section, the Baozi Village to Yangjiazhuang section, and the Huanyuan Middle Road parking lot access line section, with a double-track length of 4.67 kilometers. The "Xinghuo No. 1" shield machine launched this time is responsible for excavating the 1,117.266-meter right-line shield tunnel of the Baozi Village to Yangjiazhuang section, and the right line of the Bao-Yang section is expected to be completed by the end of March 2022.

The construction unit has intensified on-site technical personnel training for shield construction, continuously optimized the construction plan, and through measures such as pre-shift briefings and on-site technical disclosures, strengthened workers' awareness of safe construction, coordinated all preparatory work during shield tunneling, and ensured the smooth launch of the shield machine.

According to the project manager, as of now, the vertical shaft cross passage and main line primary support of the Guangtai Gate to Baozi Village mined section, the vertical shaft cross passage of the access line mined section, as well as the retaining piles and crown beam retaining walls of Baozi Village Station, and the retaining piles and crown beam retaining walls of the Baozi Village to Yangjiazhuang open-cut section have all been completed. The next main task is the construction of the main structure.

Xi'an Metro Line 8 is the first large loop line in Xi'an's metro plan, running through 5 administrative districts and 5 new development zones, and will also be China's first driverless metro to operate as a complete loop. Once completed, the project will be of great significance for promoting Xi'an's urban development and improving citizens' travel conditions.