Key Laboratory of Water Ecology Conservation and Water Heritage, Ministry of Water Resources

The Key Laboratory of Water Ecology Conservation and Water Heritage, Ministry of Water Resources (hereinafter referred to as the Laboratory), was established with the approval of the Ministry of Water Resources. It is hosted by Peking University and developed under the responsibility of the College of Architecture and Landscape . After two years of meticulous preparation, the Laboratory successfully completed all construction tasks in 2025.

Rooted in serving the high-quality development of water resources in the new era, the Laboratory focuses on water ecological conservation and restoration alongside the scientific preservation of water heritage. It functions as an integrated innovation platform combining fundamental research, technological development, and achievement transformation. With four primary research directions—“Extraction and Translation of Traditional Ecological Wisdom Models,” “Standardization and Visualization of Key Water Ecological Restoration Technologies,” “Theories and Methods for Water Ecological Conservation and Restoration,” and “Protection and Utilization of Water Heritage”—the Laboratory promotes the deep integration of water security, water culture, and water ecology.

The research team is led by interdisciplinary experts in landscape architecture, ecology, hydrology, environmental engineering, and history, forming a multi-tiered talent structure featuring “academician guidance + academic leader responsibility + young backbone support.” It conducts scientific research through Peking University. The Academic Committee, chaired by Academician Ma Jun of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, brings together 16 authoritative experts from multiple fields globally to provide think-tank support for the laboratory's strategic planning, research directions, and major achievements.

The laboratory has established the South Xixi Experimental Base in Huangshan, Anhui Province. Leveraging its unique water ecosystem network and Huizhou water heritage, it creates a “living laboratory” for collaborative natural-cultural research. This provides an empirical platform for validating water ecological restoration technologies, innovating heritage protection models, and demonstrating integrated management approaches. It facilitates the practical application of research outcomes, empowering regional water ecological conservation and sustainable development. Supported by institutional safeguards, interdisciplinary collaboration, and open sharing, the laboratory strives to become a professional service team for high-quality water resources development.

Laboratory Director: Professor Yu Kongjian