A　new　type　of　ground-supported　cable　arch　structure　was　proposed　in　the　paper.　Compared　with　other　types　of　cable　arch　structures,　the　new　one　can　obtain　relatively　high　clearance,　good　architectural　function　and　effect.　Mechanical　arch　and　cable　arch　models　with　span　of　60　m　and　rise-to-span　ratios　of　0.2,　0.3　and　0.4　were　created.　The　mechanical　performances　including　initial　force,　strength,　stiffness,　dynamic　characteristic　and　stability　performance　plus　the　material　costs　were　compared　between　the　arch　and　cable　arch　structures　with　various　rise-to-span　ratios.　The　results　show　that　the　maximum　initial　force　can　be　significantly　reduced　and　the　stiffness　and　stability　performance　can　be　enhanced　remarkably.　The　maximum　horizontal　reaction　force　can　be　reduced　to　some　extent　with　the　new　cable　arch　structure.　The　new　structural　system　is　rational　and　the　mechanical　performance　is　good.　The　economic　performance　is　good　since　the　material　cost　can　be　30%　to　40%　less　than　the　arch　structures.　The　governing　load　combination　for　displacement　control　is　the　one　including　half　span　live　load　and　wind　load,　and　the　governing　load　combination　for　stability　is　the　one　only　including　whole　span　load　or　half　span　load.　The　optimal　rise-to-span　ratio　ranges　from　0.2　to　0.3.