In order to construct an implementable way to protect the natural scenic value of rivers in China, this paper analyzes the relevant policies and cases of China and the United States, and puts forward three models for river classification in Western China: the “natural” river protection mode based on the system of national parks and nature reserves, the “symbiotic” river protection mode based on the developed rivers with outstanding value, and the “restoration” river protection mode based on the rivers where the built water conservancy projects are facing retirement. Based on the particularity of river protection in China, the following protection strategies are proposed. From the perspective of territorial planning, “natural” rivers should introduce projects of river value identification, environmental impact assessment and low impact natural experience education. “Symbiotic” rivers should change from low-income and high consumption to high-income and low impact development mode, promote river legislation to coordinate the contradiction between protection and development and basic scientific research, and build multi-party dialogue platform. From the perspective of priority of main stream development and tributary protection, “restoration” rivers should strengthen multi-disciplinary cooperation and carry out pilot projects of river restoration.