The　areas　where　tunnels　crossing　faults　are　especially　susceptible　to　seismic　damage.　Local　site　effects　associated　with　fault　site　notably　contribute　to　the　unfavourable　impact　on　the　seismic　behaviour　of　tunnels.　In　this　study,　large-scale　shaking　table　tests　were　conducted　to　investigate　the　fault　site　effect　and　its　impact　on　the　seismic　response　of　tunnels.　Real　earthquake　records,　synthetic　seismic　wave,　and　sinusoidal　waves　were　selected　as　input　motions,　excited　in　both　transverse　and　longitudinal　directions　of　the　tunnel.　The　local　site　effect　of　the　fault　site　was　evaluated　by　time-frequency　analysis.　The　test　results　indicate　that　the　acceleration　response　within　the　fault　is　significantly　greater　than　those　on　both　sides,　regardless　of　excitation　direction.　Dynamic　characteristics　of　different　regions　of　the　fault　site　exhibit　distinct　variations　under　different　excitation　directions,　with　the　dynamic　behaviour　of　the　strata　within　the　fault　playing　a　crucial　role.　Marked　waveform　distortion　and　trapped　waves　can　be　observed　within　the　fault,　attributed　to　harmonic　distortion,　waveform　conversion　at　fault　interfaces,　and　varying　seismic　wave　propagation　pathways.　The　region　of　maximum　seismic　response　of　the　fault-crossing　tunnel　predominantly　occurs　near　the　interface　between　the　fault　and　the　hanging　wall.　The　seismic　response　of　the　tunnel　located　in　the　hanging　wall　exceeds　that　in　the　footwall.　The　dynamic　characteristics　of　the　fault-crossing　tunnel　are　significantly　affected　by　the　dynamic　characteristics　of　the　strata　around　the　tunnel,　highlighting　the　necessity　of　comprehending　strata　dynamics　in　the　seismic　design　of　such　tunnels.　The　aforementioned　findings　could　offer　valuable　insights　for　the　seismic　design　of　mountain　tunnels　crossing　fault　zones.　©　2024　Taylor　&　Francis　Group,　LLC.