Severe　damage　to　the　continuous　girder　bridges　(CGB)　has　been　observed　in　past　earthquakes.　To　decrease　the　seismic　response　of　CGB,　a　novel　winding　rope　fluid　viscous　damper　(WRFVD)　is　proposed.　In　this　paper,　theoretical　mechanical　equations　for　the　WRFVD　are　derived.　In　addition,　simplified　numerical　modeling　approach　on　CGB　with　WRFVD　is　presented.　To　verify　effectiveness　of　the　WRFVD　on　CGB,　a　scaled　three-span　CGB　equipped　with　WRFVD　was　tested　using　the　shaking　table　test.　The　results　showed　that　WRFVD　can　effectively　reduce　the　internal　force　of　the　fixed　pier　and　the　deck　displacement.　In　addition,　the　experimental　results　verified　that　the　simplified　numerical　model　can　be　used　effectively　to　simulate　the　seismic　response　of　multi-span　CGB　equipped　with　WRFVD.　The　verified　numerical　model　was　used　in　a　parameter　study　to　examine　the　influence　of　damping　coefficient,　damping　index,　number　and　rope　pre-tension　of　WRFVD　on　the　seismic　response　of　a　five-span　CGB.　The　parameter　study　shows　that　the　seismic　response　of　multi-span　CGB　equipped　with　WRFVD　decreases　with　the　increasing　damping　coefficient,　the　increasing　number　of　WRFVD　and　the　decreasing　damping　index.　The　influence　of　the　pre-tension　of　winding　ropes　is　more　efficient　for　the　near-fault　ground　motions.　The　results　demonstrate　WRFVD　can　be　used　effectively　to　reduce　the　seismic　response　of　CGB.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd