Abstract: The shield tunnelling method has been used as a main construction method for urban rail transit tunnels in China and is credited with the characteristics of construction safety, high ground adaptability and little environmental impact. Cutting-tool wear is one of the common problems during shield tunnelling, and manifests mainly as wear in complex ground and as mud cakes in ground characterized by clay. Research was conducted on cutting-tool wear conditions in shield tunnels of urban subways in China by analyzing and collecting 41 cases of cutting-tool wear both at home and abroad from 2003 to 2013 and based on the geologic survey data of 38 domestic urban subway projects. This study provides a good reference for construction safety and the efficient excavation of future domestic urban rail transit projects.