Abstract: The scientific of water pollution-intensive industry layout is the basis and premise of water resources protection effectiveness in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. By defining 12 industries as water pollution-intensive industries, using the deviation share, Gini coefficient and location quotient to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of the water pollution intensive industries in the Yangtze River Economic Belt , Furthermore, we establish the panel regression model to analyze its influencing factors from the influence of traditional geographical location factors, new economic geography factors and institutional factors. The study found that: (1) From the time trend: the proportion of water pollution-intensive industries to total industrial in the Yangtze River Economic Belt’s value has gradually declined, but the proportion of pollution-intensive industries in the country has declined slightly. The industry shift share results show that the industry development of water pollution-intensive industries has differentiated between 2003 and 2016. The chemical industry is in the situation of recession, The problem of “chemical surrounding the river” is gradually improving. (2) From the characteristics of spatial evolution: the Gini coefficient shows that the water pollution-intensive industry is spreading. The location quotient and regional shift share further verified that the water pollution-intensive industries have a tendency to transfer and spread from the downstream to the middle and upper reaches, especially in the midstream areas with good industrial bases.（3）Economic factors, labor costs, and infrastructure are the main factors driving the spatial layout of water pollution-intensive industries in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.