Based on the systemic planning of water resources of Heshan City,Guangdong Province,and a mass of data about hydrology and ecology collected from field survey,the classification of river eco-environmental water requirement was discussed.The objectives of the research were to realize basic ecological functions of a river and approximately calculate the eco-environmental water requirement of Shaping River using the updated calculation method for eco-environmental water requirement.Classification and computation are performed for making contributions to the harmony of society and economy,sustainable development and realization of optimal eco-environmental development.The results from calculation show that the total eco-environmental water requirement of Shaping River is about 3.18×10⁷ m³,accounting for 38.6% of normal annual runoff.According to the eco-environmental water requirement,the distribution of water resources of the river is optimized,and the optimal projects of water saving and water resource protection are designed by the characteristics of water requirement of the river,The research offers a scientific basis for the rational exploitation,utilization and protection of water resources of the river.