The rapid construction of tunnels in soft ground is an issue that needs to be solved urgently. In China, due to the lack of advanced equipment, the issue can only be solved by changing the construction method. Practices show that the minibench construction method is a relatively good method for construction of tunnels in soft ground. Diaogouling tunnel on WuhanGuangzhou passengerdedicated railway, located in Hengyang and Chenzhou of Hunan province, is the second longest tunnel in XXTJIV bid section. The tunnel is characterized by high design standard (with 350km/h train running speed), large excavation crosssection (with 150m2 excavation crosssection area) and complex geologies (including long distance of soft ground, numerous faults and fullydeveloped karst). Taking the construction of Diaogouling tunnel as an example, the authors discuss the construction methods and construction technologies for the rapid construction of large crosssection tunnels in soft ground in this paper, which can provide reference for similar projects in the future.