The vibration generated during the shield construction process may have an impact on the surrounding environment and structures, so it is particularly important to study the characteristics of its vibration sources and propagation properties. This paper analyzes the characteristics of the main vibration sources of the shield machine during the construction process, including the vibration frequency, amplitude distribution and so on. Through the literature research of various experts and scholars, the change rule of vibration sources under different working conditions is explored, and the propagation characteristics of vibration in the soil body are studied. This study can provide reference basis for vibration control and environmental protection during shield construction. The main conclusions are as follows: 1) the vibration during shield construction is mainly generated by the interaction between the cutter plate and the surrounding rock; 2) the frequency of vibration caused by shield construction is mainly in the range of 0~80Hz, and the amplitude is related to the nature of the excavated soil and the construction parameters; 3) the vibration tends to decrease with the increase of the distance, and the high-frequency vibration propagates faster than the low-frequency attenuation in the soil body.