Underground　pipelines　are　important　components　of　lifeline　engineering,　and　they　undertake　important　tasks　such　as　supplying　water,　gas,　and　heating,　etc.　Once　they　are　damaged　in　the　earthquake,　the　normal　life　of　residents　and　the　recovery　of　the　city　after　the　disaster　will　be　affected　seriously.　As　the　countries　with　the　strongest　earthquake　resistance,　China,　Japan　and　America　have　their　own　characteristics　in　the　seismic　design　of　underground　pipelines.　However,　the　existing　studies　about　the　seismic　guidelines　of　the　three　countries　only　focus　on　the　seismic　design　principles　of　underground　pipelines　or　only　focus　on　the　comparison　of　seismic　design　of　building　structures.　Therefore,　a　comprehensive　analysis　and　comparison　for　the　seismic　design　of　underground　pipelines　are　conducted　in　this　study.　Meanwhile,　how　to　transform　the　seismic　design　parameters　from　one　country　to　another　is　discussed.　Finally,　this　study　uses　two　examples　to　show　the　feasibility　of　the　study.　Copyright　©2022　Engineering　Mechanics.　All　rights　reserved.