The article discusses how China manages its river basins, focusing on key issues, legal arrangements, and organization. Despite differences between basins, a national unified approach is used. Authority for managing inter-jurisdictional basins comes from the national government and water laws. In the past, China focused on water project construction, neglecting the benefits of basin management. Now, river basin management institutions have been strengthened in major basins, promoting integrated water resource development. A unique Chinese model based on planning and coordination has been developed, making basin management crucial for water resource management in China.