The "Jinxiu" shield tunneling machine

China's largest domestically made shield tunneling machines "Jinxiu" was officially launched in Changsha, Southwest Hunan Province on Saturday, attracting widespread attention online with not only its massive size but also its adorable "panda" paint.

The machine has a diameter of 12.79 meters and weighs 3,000 tons. It will be used in the construction of Jinxiu Tunnel, an essential component of the highspeed railway from Chengdu to Zigong in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, which is known for being a home to pandas. 

The tunneling machine not only has a lovely panda outfit, but is also literally a "Kungfu Panda." The machine is tasked to tackle complex conditions in the Jinxiu Tunnel, which goes through underneath a busy area of Chengdu.  

The "Jinxiu" tunneling machine provides a guarantee for construction projects for long-distance railway tunnels and further consolidates the technical level of domestically made tunneling equipment, media reports said. 

Global Times