Abstract: With the rapid economic development in China, in addition to conventional indicators such as channel function and economic efficiency, increasing attention is being paid to environmental considerations, sustainable development, and national defense security requirements when constructing river-crossing passages. Based on this, underwater tunnels in China have experienced rapid development. The main construction methods for underwater tunnels in China include shield method, mining method, immersed tube method, and cofferdam open-cut method. This work systematically delineates the historical evolution of these diverse construction methods for underwater tunnels in China and offers preliminary insights into their prospective trajectories, thereby furnishing a valuable point of reference for professionals within the field.