Abstract: The conceptual system of water rights is a basic theoretical research topic in the field of resources and environment. Due to the complexity of water rights, the concept of water rights in China has not yet reached a consensus, and the theory and practice of water rights cannot meet the requirements of the era of joint protection. Under the background of the implementation of the joint protection strategy and the “Yangtze River Protection Law of the People′s Republic of China”, it is necessary to review and summarize the development process of the concept of water rights and its research results. Taking the “Yangtze River Protection Law of the People′s Republic of China” as the guide and adhering to ecological priority and green development, based on legal coordination and consistency, we should establish the value objectives, basic principles and legal attributes of the concept of water rights, unify the understanding of water rights, improve the conceptual system of water rights, and promote the coordinated development of ecological protection and resource utilization.