Abstract:The fault distribution and characteristics in the Zhoushan area are highly complex. The presence of active faults that could cause surface faulting is crucial for the seismic design and the selection of anti-fault parameters for the new Ningbo-Zhoushan railway project. This study, based on field seismic geological surveys and shallow seismic exploration in the waters, investigates the Quaternary activity of major faults in the Zhoushan area, leading to the following preliminary findings: The Chaiqiao Wubai'ao fault was identified as a pre-Quaternary fault; the Sha'ao-Daijia fault was primarily an early Quaternary fault, with recent activity in some local sections dating back to the early Late Pleistocene; the Huatingli-Ziwei fault and the Changhua-Putuo fault were most recently active in the Middle Pleistocene; and the Ma'ao-Dinghai fault and the Dafeng-Changbai fault had their latest activity in the Early Pleistocene. The section of the Sha'ao-Daijia fault intersecting the project route was an active fault from the Late Pleistocene. For engineering safety, anti-fault measures should be taken, while other faults did not require such considerations. Construction of earthquake-vulnerable and difficult-to-repair structures should be avoided within the influence range of the Sha'ao-Daijia fault, and station buildings or other structures should not be constructed in this area. When rerouting, the hanging wall effect should be considered. The use of ballast track across the Sha'ao-Daijia fault zone was suggested, along with flexible subgrade engineering design that is easy to repair. Additionally, seismic stability measures and long-term deformation monitoring were recommended for embankments. Based on the seismic geological background analysis, the intersection of east-west Changhua-Putuo fault, northeast Sha'ao-Daijia fault, and Zhenhai-Ninghai fault was a potential site for destructive earthquakes. The site and its surrounding areas were found to have seismogenic potential of earthquakes of around magnitude 6.