In　view　of　the　insufficiency　in　the　definition　of　seismic　performance　level　and　quantification　of　performance　index　for　underground　structures.　This　paper　divides　the　seismic　performance　level　of　underground　structures　into　four　levels,　referring　to　the　classification　method　for　performance　level　of　ground　buildings,　and　gives　a　brief　description　of　the　structure　functions　for　each　level.　Based　on　the　classification,　18　shallow-buried　subway　stations　different　types　of　rectangular　sections　are　selected　as　analysis　objects,　and　a　three-dimensional　finite　element　model　of　soil-structure　is　established　for　them.　The　model　is　analyzed　by　the　Pushover　method　analysis　of　underground　structure　with　inverted　triangular　load　distribution,　and　the　complete　capacity　curves　of　key　components　of　each　station　structure　are　obtained.　By　means　of　geometric　mapping　and　probability　statistics,　the　lateral　seismic　performance　index　system,　including　the　limit　value　of　inter-storey　drift,　is　established　for　the　rectangular　frame　subway　station　structure.　The　quantitative　standard　of　performance　index　can　guide　the　seismic　design　of　underground　structures　to　a　certain　extent,　and　provide　reference　for　further　development　and　improvement　of　the　existing　seismic　performance　index　system　of　underground　structures.　©　2019,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.