The　seismic　requirements　of　piers　with　fixed　bearings　(the　fixed　pier)　for　continuous　girder　bridges　are　relatively　high,　while　the　potential　seismic　capabilities　of　piers　with　sliding　bearings　(the　sliding　piers)　are　not　fully　utilized.　To　solve　this　contradiction,　a　new　type　of　winding　rope　shock　absorption　device　activated　by　a　fluid　viscous　damper　(WRD-D)　was　proposed.　The　WRD-D　was　installed　on　the　top　of　the　sliding　piers,　and　the　both　ends　of　a　fluid　viscous　damper　were　connected　to　the　superstructure　by　winding　ropes.　During　an　earthquake,　the　damping　force　rises　with　the　increase　of　relative　speed　between　the　sliding　piers　and　the　superstructure,　activating　the　WRD-D　and　producing　large　frictional　resistance,　subsequently　causing　the　sliding　piers　and　the　fixed　pier　to　bear　the　seismic　load　cooperatively.　In　this　study,　the　working　mechanism　of　the　WRD-D　was　researched.　The　shaking　table　test　of　a　scaled　continuous　girder　bridge　model　employing　the　WRD-D　was　conducted.　The　test　results　reveal　that　the　WRD-D　can　effectively　reduce　the　seismic　requirements　of　the　fixed　pier　and　the　superstructure　displacements.