Abstract:Practicing integrated river basin management (IRBM) is the general trend of water governance in all nations of the world currently, and also an important approach for solving increasingly severe environmental and resource issues of river basin in China. The paper discusses that China needs to carry out IRBM in order to realize the sustainable development of river basins under the changing context of socio-economic status and the transition of environmental issues. It also points out the obstacles for implementing IRBM in the developing countries, and then it analyses the existing problems from the aspects of laws and regulations, administrative organizations, policies, planning, and the participation of stakeholders, and proposes that traditional river basin management system is not in a position to adapt to the changing trend of river basin problems, and therefore puts forward the principle and vision of IRBM in China as well as the road map of institutional reform for implementing IRBM.