Abstract:Against the backdrop of China's urbanization entering a stock-based quality improvement phase, where urban regeneration has become a core agenda for urban work, the need for systematic renewal of urban rivers has become increasingly urgent. By integrating multidisciplinary theories including scene theory, ecological infrastructure, landscape urbanism, and place spirit, this paper proposes a watershed-based connotative renewal paradigm for urban rivers and constructs a three-dimensional technical framework of Linkage–Translation–Symbiosis.' Taking the Bahe River in Beijing as an empirical case, this study illustrates the application of the proposed approach. The results indicate that the Bahe River project, by 'following the natural terrain and regulating key waterway nodes,' has established a flood resilience system; connected park green spaces to enhance regional biodiversity and restore the ecological functions of the aquatic–terrestrial ecotone; transformed the canal heritage into vibrant contemporary public spaces through fullriver navigation, lock design, and cultural naming; and activated the waterfront economy by linking commercial districts and industrial parks along the river, and proposes a collaborative governance framework involving government, businesses, and the public.
