Abstract: The training experiences of domestic and foreign estuaries are introduced and the regulation research for the Yangtze River Estuary is briefly reviewed. According to the hydrologic, sediment and riverbed features of the Yangtze Estuary, a method is given to determine the width of the initial section, rate of relaxing restrictions along the channel, curvature radius and other major parameters. The general principle of arranging the regulation structures is provided, along with the length and height of the guiding levee. Analyses of the riverbed change after the construction of the first and second phase regulation works show that the regulation principle presented in this paper accords with the natural state of the Yangtze Estuary.