Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), established in 1935 and originally named the Central Hydraulic Research Institute, is the earliest comprehensive scientific research institution in China, dedicated to water conservancy, transportation, and energy. In 2001, NHRI was designated by the Chinese government as a national non-profit research institution for public welfare.
NHRI is primarily engaged in basic and applied basic research, and high-tech development, undertaking forward-looking, fundamental, and key scientific research tasks in the fields of water conservancy, transportation, and energy. The Institute also hosts several national/ministerial centers (stations), including National Hydrological Metrology Station, Dam Safety Management Center of Ministry of Water Resources (MWR), Sluice Safety Management Center of MWR, Research Center for Climate Change of MWR, Engineering Quality Inspection Center of MWR, Quality Supervision, Inspection and Testing Center for Hydrological Instruments and Geotechnical Engineering Instruments of MWR, and Dam Safety Monitoring Center of MWR.
After 90 years of development, NHRI has grown into a comprehensive water-related research institution with over 60 distinctive and specialized research orientations, enjoying significant reputation both domestically and internationally. The Institute consists of the following research departments (centers): Hydrology and Water Resources Department; Hydraulic Engineering Department; River and Harbor Engineering Department; Geotechnical Engineering Department; Materials and Structural Engineering Department; Dam Safety Management Department; Eco-Environment Research Department; Rural Water Management Department; Research Center for Big Data and Smart Water Management; Research Center for Water Science Development Strategy; Metrology and Standardization Center; National Research Institute for Rural Electrification of MWR; and Nanjing Automation Institute of Water Conservancy and Hydrology of MWR. Additionally, NHRI has a technology development arm, Ruidi Technology Group.
Supported by the strong expertise of NHRI, the following national and ministerial innovation platforms are stationed at or jointly established with the Institute: National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention; International Joint Research Center of Water Science and Hydraulic Engineering; National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station for Material Corrosion and Engineering Safety of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge; China-Pakistan “Belt and Road” Joint Laboratory on Small Hydropower Technology; as well as 14 provincial/ministerial key laboratories, engineering technology research centers, and field observation stations in water, transportation, and energy sectors.
NHRI regularly publishes eight Chinese or English academic journals.
The Institute covers a total area of over 160 hectares, comprising six major bases: Base for Fundamental and Cutting-edge Research and Talent Fostering (NHRI headquarters); Experiment Base for Water Science and Water Engineering (Tiexinqiao, Nanjing); Comprehensive Hydrological Experiment Base (Chuzhou, Anhui Province); Base for Scientific Experiment and Technology Development (Dangtu, Anhui Province); Research Base for River and Lake Management (Wuxi, Jiangsu Province); and R&D Base for Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy (Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province).
Adhering to the working principle of being "Diligent, Rigorous, Truth-seeking, and Innovative" and the quality control policy of being "Scientific, Standard, Honest, and Outstanding", NHRI has completed a large number of significant research programs, with a wealth of significant research findings. From 1978 to 2025, the Institute has received over 1,060 national and provincial/ministerial science and technology progress awards, including 90 national prizes. It has published more than 600 monographs, obtained over 2,680 national patents and over 30 international (overseas) patents.
Scientists and engineers, represented by academicians HUANG Wenxi, YAN Kai, DOU Guoren, SHEN Zhujiang, ZHANG Jianyun, and HU Ya'an, have made outstanding contributions to the development of China’s water conservancy, transportation, and energy sectors. NHRI currently has more than 2,900 research and technology development staff, including two academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, one International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK), and over 180 national/ministerial distinguished experts. Among the staff, more than 780 hold senior professional titles. The Institute has fostered 13 national and provincial/ministerial research innovation teams, including a National Outstanding Engineer Team, a Creative Research Group of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and a National Key Field Innovation Team. NHRI is recognized as a National Innovation Talent Training Demonstration Base and has been honored with the title of "National Advanced Collective for Professional and Technical Talents."
NHRI is one of the first national institutions authorized to confer doctorate and master degrees in related disciplines. It currently offers the doctoral programs of three first-level disciplines and the master’s programs of five first-level disciplines, with 31 degree-conferring programs in total and over 600 doctoral and master students currently enrolled. A Post-Doctoral Research Station of Hydraulic Engineering is also in operation.
NHRI is recognized as an international science and technology cooperation base by Ministry of Science and Technology, World Meteorological Organization Regional Training Centre on Hydrology (WMO RTC), Asia-Pacific Regional Center for Small Hydro Power (HRC), and domestic technical counterpart organization for ISO/TC113 and its five subcommittees. It has established cooperative ties with more than 80 universities, research institutions, and international academic organizations worldwide, and is authorized to conduct direct import/export business. The Institute houses the secretariats (offices) of several international/national organizations, including: Secretariat Office of the Chinese National Committee for UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (CNC-IHP); Chinese National Committee for International Association of Hydrological Sciences (CNC-IAHS); Secretariat of Working Group 207 (Ship Lifts) of World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC WG 207); Secretariat of Working Group 266 (Capacity Augmentation and Structural Expansion of Existing IW Facilities) of PIANC (PIANC WG 266); and Secretariat of Subcommittee on Instruments, Equipment and Data Management of International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee on Hydrometry (ISO/TC113/SC5).
