China’s 16-meter tunnel boring machine to appear at 2026 technology gala

The Jinghua, a 16-meter class tunnel boring machine, is scheduled to appear at the 2026 Chinese Technology Innovation Gala. The machine was co-developed by China Railway Construction Corporation and the China Railway 14th Bureau Group.

Measuring 150 meters in length and weighing 4,300 tons, the machine features a maximum excavation diameter of 16.07 meters. Upon its 2020 launch, it was recognized as the largest diameter tunnel boring machine produced in China. The machine is distinguished by a red Peking opera mask pattern painted on its cutter head.

The TBM was deployed for the major reconstruction project of Beijing’s East Sixth Ring Road. The upcoming gala, to be hosted in Hefei Luogang Park, showcases key advancements in national engineering. While an exact broadcast date for the event has not been finalized, industry projections suggest a late 2026 or early 2027 appearance.