Recently, the "Xianxing Hao" (Pioneer) super-large-diameter dual-channel slurry balance shield machine, developed by Sunward Intelligent's subsidiary Shanhe Machinery, was officially put into use at the Guangzhou Fangcun–Baiyun Airport Intercity Railway project (hereinafter referred to as "Fangbai Intercity"). As an important component of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area intercity railway network,Fangbai Intercitycarries the strategic mission of building Guangzhou's "air-rail intermodal" golden corridor. Among its sections, the large-diameter shield section of the Baiyun Station siding section in Work Zone 3 is particularly critical; the "Xianxing Hao" shield machine, as a major national heavy equipment, provides strong support for the efficient advancement of the project.

The tunnel construction standards for the large-diameter shield section of the Baiyun Station siding section of Fangbai Intercity are stringent: the tunnel has an outer diameter of 11.8 meters, an inner diameter of 10.8 meters, and a ring width of 2 meters, and adopts a construction mode in which a single machine sequentially excavates the left and right lines. The left line starts from the south shield shaft and, after reception, is relocated for a second assembly, achieving efficient connection throughout. As an important link in the Greater Bay Area transportation hub, this section imposes high requirements on construction efficiency, engineering quality, and safety control.

The geological conditions along the project are complex, and construction is notably difficult. The strata are uneven in hardness, covering soft clay layers, medium-coarse sand layers, and high-strength slightly weathered limestone formations; the minimum clear distance of the tunnel structure is only 1.4 meters, making it susceptible to stratum disturbance. This places extremely high demands on the adaptability, stability, and precise control capabilities of the shield equipment.

To this end, the "Xianxing Hao" shield machine was designed in a targeted manner, featuring three core advantages that precisely match the project requirements. First, the dual-channel slurry circulation system is equipped with dual channels—a direct-discharge pipe and a screw conveyor plus jaw crusher—which can flexibly adapt to composite strata, ensuring smooth muck discharge and efficient, stable excavation. Second, the high-strength pressurized composite cutterhead adopts a high-strength structure and small cutter spacing design, adapting to composite strata such as soft upper and hard lower layers and hard rock, improving cutting efficiency and operational stability. In addition, the low-disturbance main machine design effectively reduces disturbance to the strata, protects surrounding pile foundations and existing structures, and provides reliable guarantees for construction safety.