The first shield tunneling machine "Haojiang Pioneer" for the design and construction of the Macau Light Rail East Line (North Section) started on the 7th, marking the official entry of the project into the tunnel excavation stage. The northern section of the Macau Light Rail East Line project, jointly operated and constructed by China Civil Engineering, Nanguang Real Estate, and China Railway 16th Bureau, has a total length of about 2.74 kilometers, starting from Zone A of the Macau Peninsula in the south and ending at the Guanzha Port in the north. It is one of the important livelihood projects for Macau to improve its rail transit network and enhance residents' travel efficiency. The main construction content of this project includes "three stations and three sections", among which the shield tunnel section is about 2077 meters long and fully underground. Due to factors such as dense urban buildings, narrow construction sites, and complex hydrogeological conditions in the construction area, the project adopts the "short section, high-frequency" shield tunneling method, which requires multiple shield tunneling starting and receiving operations, and puts forward new and higher requirements for precision control, geological adaptability, and risk mitigation in shield tunneling construction. To ensure the smooth progress of shield tunneling construction and ensure the safety of above ground buildings and the stability of underground spaces, China Civil Engineering Corporation has worked closely with multiple units such as Nanguang Real Estate, China Railway 16th Bureau, China Railway Fourth Institute, and China Railway Construction Corporation to tailor the earth pressure balance shield tunneling machine "Haojiang Pioneer" to the geological conditions of the project and various excavation risk points in the underwater area. This shield tunneling machine is 87 meters long with a total weight of about 690 tons. The excavation diameter of the cutterhead can reach 7280 millimeters, and it has functions such as intelligent monitoring and high-precision correction. As an important infrastructure for high-quality and sustainable development in Macau, the northern section of the Light Rail East Line includes an underwater tunnel, which plays an important role in Macau's rail transit construction system. The launch of the "Haojiang Pioneer" shield tunneling machine has opened a new chapter in the development of underground space for Macau's rail transit construction, effectively promoting technological innovation in the field of Macau's infrastructure construction. After the completion and opening of the project, it will effectively alleviate the pressure of passenger flow at the customs clearance port and greatly improve the efficiency of ground transportation. (New Society)