A tissue paper winding machine includes a first winding roller and a web separator arranged below the first winding roller. A tissue paper is fed into the winding machine to bear against a lower circumferential surface of the first winding roller and moves along a predetermined feeding direction for winding around a core. The web separator includes a pivot shaft, at least one pinch arm having a connecting end connected to the pivot shaft and a pressing end radially outward extended from the pivot shaft, and a driving mechanism for driving the pinch arm to turn about the pivot shaft reverse to the feeding direction of the tissue paper. When the pressing end of the pinch arm is turned to a separation position, it cooperates with the first winding roller to clamp the tissue paper therebetween, and applies a reverse pulling force to split the tissue paper.