Named Xianglong, the machine has a diameter of 4.5 metres and was jointly developed by Tsinghua University.China has unveiled what it says is the world's first tunnel boring and blasting machine, a hybrid system designed to dig through some of the toughest rock formations without the delays caused by switching between different excavation methods. Officials say the new technology could significantly speed up the construction of tunnels for railways, hydropower projects and other major infrastructure.Named Xianglong, the machine has a diameter of 4.5 metres and was jointly developed by Tsinghua University and a subsidiary of the state-owned China Railway Group. It rolled off the production line in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, according to a statement issued by the provincial government.Unlike conventional tunnel boring machines, Xianglong combines mechanical excavation with an integrated drilling and blasting system. The hybrid design is expected to improve tunnelling efficiency through extremely hard rock by 30 per cent, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, citing the official statement.Engineers currently rely on two separate techniques when working through difficult geological conditions. They use tunnel boring machines for standard excavation and switch to the drill-and-blast method when the rock becomes too hard or unstable. That process often requires dismantling equipment or moving it out of the tunnel, resulting in lengthy delays and increased safety risks.According to the government statement, traditional tunnel boring machines tend to slow down considerably when cutting through fractured or exceptionally hard mountain rock, affecting the pace of large infrastructure projects.Officials said the newly developed machine was built entirely using a domestic supply chain to overcome those challenges.The machine will undergo its first real-world trial at a pumped-storage hydropower project under construction in Henan province. The project is being developed by a subsidiary of the state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China.China has rapidly expanded its tunnel boring machine industry over the past few years. According to a report published by state broadcaster CCTV in March, the country has evolved from relying on imported large-diameter tunnel boring machines to becoming the world's leading manufacturer of the equipment.Machines built in Zhengzhou, one of China's major manufacturing centres for tunnel boring technology, have been exported to 36 countries.Chinese authorities have also restricted exports of heavy boring and drilling equipment to India, particularly for projects in border regions.The announcement comes days after Chinese engineers used a large-diameter shield tunnelling machine to excavate an underwater railway tunnel beneath the Yangtze River. According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, the project will allow high-speed trains to travel under the river at speeds of up to 350 kmph without slowing down, marking a major advance in China's railway tunnelling capabilities.