Sea levels in the Yangtze River Estuary rise with increased river discharge, affecting areas like Hangzhou Bay. The study used a coastal model to analyze sea level changes from 1950 to 2011. Results show that higher river discharge leads to higher sea levels, with greater impact on the south coast. A 20,000 m3/s increase in discharge can raise sea levels by 0.005–0.010 m in Hangzhou Bay. Sea levels at specific stations increased by 0.178 mm/y due to river discharge from 1980 to 2011. This accounts for 6.8–8.9% of the total sea level rise during that period. The sea-level change period in the Yangtze River area is mainly influenced by tidal cycles.