As the founder of China's modern water conservancy, Zhang Jian's thoughts and propositions on water conservancy have a profound impact on the development of modern water conservancy, and there are many enlightenments for the governance of rivers in China. Zhang Jian put forward the famous theory of “three theories of river governance” when governing the Yangtze River Basin and promoted the reform of water administration system. This was also the initial embryonic form of modern river basin management institutions. In response to Zhang Jian's practice of governance of the Yangtze River Basin, combining with the current status and problems of China's governance of the Yangtze River Basin in recent years, we proposed to strengthen inter-governmental coordinated governance, promote multi-subjects consultation and co-governance, and deepen the reform of the river chief system in the Yangtze River Basin to promote the coordinated development of river governance.