In order to study the calculation method of surrounding rock pressure of shallow tunnel, the failure mode of Gaoliying shallow tunnel is studied by using finite element software modeling and shear strain criterion. Furthermore, the failure mode and velocity field of the upper limit method of plastic limit analysis are constructed, the calculation method of surrounding rock pressure of shallow tunnel is established, and the influence law of rock and soil mass nonlinear failure criterion on surrounding rock pressure of shallow tunnel is discussed. The results show that: (1) The value of lateral pressure coefficient has a great influence on the calculation results based on the linear or nonlinear failure criteria; and the vertical surrounding rock pressure decreases and horizontal surrounding rock pressure increases with the increase of lateral pressure coefficient. (2) The surrounding rock pressure decreases with the increase of nonlinear coefficient.