In the process of large-diameter slurry shield tunneling, encountering boulder groups in front of the cutter head often occurs, which significantly impact tunneling efficiency and construction safety. To achieve rapid and efficient handling of boulder groups closely adjacent to the slurry shield cutter head, reduce the frequency of pressure-compromised opening for tool replacement, and ensure safe and smooth passage through boulder areas, the Fuzhou Metro Binhai Line project’s Binhai Zhong section was taken as a case study. Through in-depth analysis of key aspects such as tunneling anomalies, tool inspections, tool replacements, ground re-examinations, and handling of boulders adjacent to the cutter head, innovative techniques and processes such as the “rock crushing and downward pressure method” and the “rock pushing and filling method” have been proposed. These effectively address the challenges posed by boulder groups encountered during large-diameter slurry shield tunneling, significantly shortening the construction period for passing through boulder areas and providing a systematic solution and reference for similar projects.