Abstract: Landslides often occur in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. Landslide generated waves often mark threats against vessels in the waterways. Based on this， a physical model for simulating the rock landslide generated waves is designed, taking the river reach near the Tuokou port in Wanzhou harbor as the prototype. Primary wave height and the wave height in different working conditions are obtained from the special instruments placed in the model. A regression analysis method is used to get the empirical formula for the primary wave height and attenuation of wave height. And the formula for navigation limits of ships in the inland waterways is given by the empirical formula. The formula is checked and verified by the ship model tests. Then we explain the formula for the waterway during the wave flow field. The determination of scope of restricted waterway for vessel can provide an important basis for the research on measures for vessel safety. It is of practical significance to reducing the damage of the vessel and casualties caused by landslide generated waves.