The　vulnerability　of　single　pylon　cable-stayed　bridges　under　strong　ground　motions　are　of　great　concern　to　both　researchers　and　engineers.　This　paper　investigates　the　seismic　performance　of　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　single　pylon　cable-stayed　bridge　equipped　with　friction　sliding　bearings　under　bi-directional　earthquake　excitations.　Three-dimensional　numerical　models,　consisting　of　the　dynamic　p-y　elements,　the　fiber　elements　and　the　multi　layer　shell　elements,　were　developed　in　this　study　based　on　the　prototype　of　a　single　pylon　cable-stayed　bridge　in　Guizhou　Province,　China,　to　investigate　its　seismic　response.　Three　different　types　of　friction　sliding　bearings　were　implemented　between　the　base　of　the　RC　pier　and　the　pile　foundation　to　mitigate　the　dynamic　response　of　the　bridge　superstructure　under　strong　ground　motions.　The　results　of　the　nonlinear　time　history　analyses　indicate　that　friction　sliding　bearings　can　effectively　reduce　the　base　shear　and　the　bending　moment　of　the　RC　pier,　as　well　as　the　seismic　responses　of　substructure,　at　the　cost　of　increasing　the　absolute　displacement　of　the　deck.　To　reduce　the　deck　displacement,　viscous　dampers　were　implemented　in　parallel　to　the　friction　sliding　bearings.　Parametric　studies　and　optimization　analyses　were　performed　on　the　critical　parameters　of　the　viscous　dampers　with　the　target　of　minimizing　the　absolute　displacement　of　the　deck　and　reducing　the　base　shear　of　the　RC　pier　to　an　acceptable　level.　The　numerical　results　show　that　implementation　of　friction　sliding　bearings　together　with　the　viscous　dampers　is　an　effective　seismic　control　approach　to　mitigate　the　seismic　damage　of　the　single　pylon　cable-stayed　bridge.