Much　effort　has　been　made　in　investigating　the　seismic　response　and　failure　mechanism　of　rectangular　subway　stations,　however,　the　influence　of　earth　retaining　systems　has　generally　been　ignored　in　previous　studies.　This　paper　presents　a　numerical　study　on　the　seismic　performance　of　a　rectangular　subway　station　with/without　earth　retaining　systems　by　taking　fender　piles　as　the　example,　and　aims　to　illustrate　how　the　existence　of　fender　piles　affects　seismic　responses　on　subway　stations.　The　loading　conditions　of　subway　stations　and　their　surrounding　soils　prior　to　earthquakes　are　discussed.　Next,　seismic　responses　of　subway　stations　with　or　without　fender　piles　were　simulated.　Afterward,　earthquake-induced　deformations　of　stations　and　surrounding　soils,　as　well　as　the　internal　forces　and　damage　modes　of　the　structural　components,　were　systematically　studied.　Consequently,　the　seismic　performance　of　the　stations　was　affected　by　the　existence　of　fender　piles.　In　addition,　earthquake　intensity　is　illustrated.　The　study　showed　that　deformation　modes　of　surrounding　soils　and　damage　modes　of　stations　were　different　with　regard　to　the　existence　of　fender　piles.　Meanwhile,　earthquake　intensity　influencing　the　seismic　performance　of　stations　with　or　without　fender　piles　were　found　to　be　opposite.