Observations　from　several　earthquakes　indicate　that　near-fault　(NF)　ground　motions　have　a　significant　influence　on　the　seismic　response　of　structures.　However,　existing　studies　have　only　discussed　the　influence　of　a　certain　NF　characteristic　on　the　seismic　response,　rather　than　systematically　discussing　and　comparing　the　influence　of　different　NF　characteristics.　Furthermore,　current　research　is　only　suitable　for　a　specific　structure　while　the　influence　of　NF　characteristics　on　structures　with　different　dynamic　characteristics　has　not　been　revealed.　As　an　important　lifeline　project,　the　safety　of　a　cable-stayed　bridge　(CSB)　during　earthquakes　is　of　great　concern.　Therefore,　this　paper　investigates　the　influence　of　NF　ground　motions　on　the　seismic　response　of　CSB.　Firstly,　three　major　characteristics　(i.e.,　the　hanging　wall　effect,　rupture　directivity　effect　and　high　velocity　pulse)　of　NF　ground　motions　are　analyzed　using　NF　records　of　the　Chi-Chi　earthquake.　Secondly,　a　finite　element　(FEM)　model　for　modeling　a　prototype　CSB　is　developed　and　benchmarked.　Then,　the　seismic　responses　of　the　prototype　CSB　subjected　to　NF　ground　motions　with　different　characteristics　are　analyzed　using　the　benchmarked　FEM　model.　The　analyses　show　that　hanging　wall　effect,　rupture　directivity　effect,　and　high　velocity　pulse　affect　the　seismic　demand　of　the　CSB　to　varying　degrees.　Furthermore,　the　influences　of　NF　characteristics　on　the　displacement　response　of　CSBs　with　different　fundamental　periods　are　investigated　using　SDOF　systems.　The　analysis　results　show　that　different　NF　characteristics　have　various　influences　on　the　displacement　response　of　CSBs　with　different　fundamental　periods.