The　sequential　excavation　method　(SEM),　in　which　the　tunnel　face　is　partitioned　into　several　temporary　drifts,　can　promote　face　stability　and　reduce　ground　displacement.　Three-bench　seven-step　excavation　method　(TSEM)　as　a　kind　of　the　SEM,　which　can　stabilize　the　tunnel　face　but　does　not　require　any　additional　support,　has　been　widely　used　in　loess　tunnels　with　large　cross-sections　for　high-speed　railway　(HSR)　in　China.　This　study　focuses　on　the　effects　of　TSEM　on　the　displacement　characteristics　for　HSR　tunnels　in　loess　ground.　A　series　of　in-situ　tests　and　numerical　simulations　were　conducted　to　reveal　displacement　characteristics　and　obtain　optimal　construction　approaches　for　large-span　loess　tunnels　in　China.　The　strata　around　the　loess　tunnels　have　undergone　significant　settlement　either　at　the　arch　part　or　at　the　ground　surface　due　to　loess＇s　metastable　structure　especially　in　the　new　loess　ground.　Upper　strata　above　loess　tunnels　subsided　as　a　whole,　and　the　subsidence　developed　suddenly　and　devastatingly.　Large　residual　ground　surface　settlements　still　occurred　after　the　ring　closure　of　the　primary　support　even　after　the　application　of　the　upper　lining.　The　best　construction　approach　of　TSEM　was　proposed　for　its　potential　to　limit　surface　and　subsurface　ground　displacements,　as　revealed　both　by　numerical　simulation　and　field　monitoring.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.