In recent years, with the help of good national policy support, the design, manufacturing and construction technology for tunnel boring machine (TBM) in China have been greatly improved; but compared with foreign relatively proven technology, there is still a certain gap for domestic technology development and engineering application. Based on the situation analysis of research and application of TBM in China and abroad, the research work for TBM design is carried out according to the complex geological conditions of Gaoligongshan Tunnel on DaliRuili Railway as follows. (1) The prototype disc cutter rock breaking and scaled disc cutter wearing experiment are carried out to provide reference for adaptable design of TBM cutterhead and key parameter calculation. (2) The TBM design scheme is discussed from the aspects of high efficiency rock breaking of cutters and cutterhead, TBM overexcavation, integrated support system, etc. (3) Two kinds of advanced geological prediction technology, i.e. HSP method and RTP method, are researched. The study results can provide reference for design and manufacture of TBM with high adaptability in complex geology and construction application in Gaoligongshan Tunnel.