The　endurance　time　analysis　(ETA)　is　an　efficient　seismic　performance　evaluation　method　characterized　by　developing　series　of　seismic　response　compatible　acceleration　time　histories　whose　amplitudes　increase　with　the　duration.　The　artificial　endurance　acceleration　time　histories　are　used　as　the　input　for　engineering　structures　to　perform　nonlinear　dynamic　analyses.　ETA　can　effectively　capture　the　entire　dynamic　response　of　the　structure　from　elastic　to　plastic　till　finally　collapse,　and　can　be　used　as　an　alternative　approach　to　evaluate　the　seismic　performance　of　structures.　In　order　to　study　the　applicability　of　this　method　in　the　seismic　performance　evaluation　of　underground　structures,　the　Dakai　subway　station　is　taken　as　the　prototype,　and　a　two-dimensional　finite　element　model　considering　soil-structure　interaction　is　established.　Three　endurance　time　acceleration　functions　(ETAFs)　are　generated　based　on　the　design　response　spectra　of　Chinese　seismic　design　code.　The　seismic　response　characteristics　of　the　Dakai　subway　station　subjected　to　three　ETAFs　and　15　real　ground　motions　are　compared　in　this　study.　The　numerical　results　show　that　the　responses　of　ETA　generally　fall　between　the　envelopes　of　incremental　dynamic　analyses　(IDA)　using　the　real　ground　motions.　The　average　response　of　the　subway　station　using　ETA　is　also　in　good　agreement　with　the　average　results　using　IDA.　Therefore,　ETA　provides　a　new　computationally　efficient　alternative　for　seismic　performance　evaluation　of　the　underground　structures　other　than　the　traditional　nonlinear　IDA.　Besides,　the　response　spectrum　corresponding　to　the　fundamental　period　of　the　soil-structure　interaction　system　is　more　preferable　than　the　peak　ground　acceleration　as　the　seismic　intensity　measure　for　the　performance　evaluation　of　the　underground　structures.　©　2020,　Editorial　Office　of　Chinese　Journal　of　Geotechnical　Engineering.　All　right　reserved.