Abstract: The use of prestressing anchor active support technology in tunnel engineering is becoming morecommon.However, the support characteristics and mechanism of action have not been fully understood for shallow, large-span rocky tunnels.In order to investigate the bearing characteristics of the surrounding rock under the prestressed anchor support system, a concealed excavation station of Qingdao Metro Line 6 was used as the engineering background, and based on the similarity principle of formulating experimental materials for stratum and support structure modelling, the bearing characteristics of the anchors under the prestressed anchor and ordinary anchor support were investigated by hydraulic loading tests.The results indicate that: ① The interaction between prestressed anchors and the surrounding rock creates a load-bearing anchor solid that can effectively support most of the overlying loads.The application of prestressed anchors during the overburden loading process increased the warning load value of tunnel instability damage by 42.8% and the ultimate load value by 41.2%.② The overburden loading process involved the prestressing anchors going through the tight anchorage load holding stage and the de-anchorage unloading stage.Simultaneously, the lining underwent the strain accumulation stage, strain surge stage, and strain release stage during the overlay loading process.③ The prestressed anchor under active support has better force synergy with the rock body than an ordinary anchor, without the axial force mutation phenomenon.This allows the support performance of the anchor to be fully utilized.Additionally, the prestressed active support effectively inhibits the development of fissures and significantly improves the overall stability of the tunnel.