Accurate　finite　element　models　play　significant　roles　in　the　design,　health　monitoring　and　life-cycle　maintenance　of　long-span　bridges.　However,　due　to　uncertainties　involved　in　finite　element　modelling,　updating　of　the　finite　element　model　to　best　represent　the　real　bridge　is　inevitable.　This　is　particularly　true　after　a　long-span　bridge　experiences　a　moderate　or　severe　earthquake　and　suffers　some　damage.　This　study　thus　proposes　a　time　history　analysis-based　nonlinear　finite　element　model　updating　method　for　long-span　cable-stayed　bridges.　Special　efforts　are　made　to　(1)　establish　the　response　time　history-based　objective　functions　and　associated　acceptance　criteria,　(2)　conduct　comprehensive　sensitivity　analyses　to　select　appropriate　nonlinear　updating　parameters　and　(3)　develop　a　highly　efficient　cluster　computing-aided　optimization　algorithm.　A　scaled　structure　of　the　Sutong　cable-stayed　bridge　in　China　is　adopted　as　a　case　study.　Three　nonlinear　test　cases　performed　in　the　shake　table　tests　of　the　scaled　bridge　are　used　to　validate　the　feasibility　and　accuracy　of　the　proposed　method.　A　good　agreement　is　observed　between　the　simulated　response　time　histories　and　the　measured　response　time　histories　for　the　scaled　bridge　under　both　moderate　and　strong　ground　motions.　The　proposed　method　could　provide　an　accurate　nonlinear　finite　element　model　for　better　performance　assessment,　damage　detection　and　life-cycle　maintenance　of　long-span　cable-stayed　bridges.　©　The　Author(s)　2020.