Construction　detail　and　seismic　performance　are　the　key　problems　experienced　by　precast　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　bridge　column-pile　cap　joints　used　in　seismic　regions.　Currently,　precast　RC　bridge　pier　columns　anchored　by　grouted　corrugated　ducts　are　primarily　used　in　mild　earthquake　zones,　and　research　on　their　seismic　performance　and　seismic　failure　modes　is　far　behind　engineering　practice.　Reinforcement　bars　anchored　by　grouted　corrugated　ducts　were　used　for　precast　RC　bridge　pier　columns　in　this　study,　and　quasi-static　cyclic　tests　were　performed　on　the　precast　pier　columns.　The　damage　evolution　process,　local　reinforcement　strain,　failure　mode,　and　nonlinear　behavior　of　precast　and　cast-in-place　bridge　pier　columns　were　analyzed　and　compared,　and　the　seismic　performance　of　precast　and　cast-in-place　RC　bridge　pier　columns　was　evaluated.　Results　indicated　that　the　seismic　performance　of　the　precast　and　cast-in-place　RC　bridge　pier　columns　are　in　agreement　with　respect　to　the　main　seismic　performance　indices,　such　as　lateral　strength;　however,　the　displacement　ductility　and　energy　dissipation　character　are　slightly　lower　in　precast　columns.　The　main　damage　suffered　by　the　precast　RC　bridge　column　in　the　experiment　occurred　in　the　joint　opening　and　plastic　hinge　regions;　bond-slip　failure　was　found　during　the　testing.　It　can　be　concluded　that　reinforcement　bars　anchored　by　corrugated　grouted　ducts　are　a　suitable　technology　for　use　in　precast　bridge　pier　columns　in　seismic　regions.　©　2018,　Editorial　Department　of　China　Journal　of　Highway　and　Transport.　All　right　reserved.