For the transformation process of the report city / river, three periods are defined by French researchers: that of the commercial city, that of the industrial city and that of the city in the post-industrial transformation (or city of tertiary sector). However, the chinese river cities have the specifics in the trace of evolution : there exist no trade orientation in the beginning of the time called "trade period", or the industrial revolution at the time of industry; it use the Western model as major reference for development of service functions at the time called "the service sector". Our research is built around two main hypotheses: first, the report city / river in China passed through the three states that characterize the historical development of western cities, but the dynamics of urbanization was born and has adapted to its specific context; secondly, with the introduction of foreign models, the Chinese river towns operate an original interpretation to suit their own economic and social contexts, the reference of external methods in the service of internal logic. In addition, we want to analyze the main issues and actors in these three stages in China. There are two common characteristics called pragmatism and dirigisme: first the dictatorship of pragmatism (the river is still considered a "useful tool") and secondly determining the effect of the actors. The most important are the state and direction of city, who have largely determined the path of evolution of functions and forms of river. Our thesis has three main parts addressing the three phases of the evolution of the city / river: the concession period, between 1840 and 1949, the era of reconstruction of China, between 1949 and 1978, and then the period of the Opening from 1978 to today. Four cities are chosen for field of research after an initial study: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Tianjin. In light of these studies, the diversity of issues related to the theme of the use of the river during urbanization is highlighted. Understanding the mechanism of interaction between foreign models and the internal logic allows us to establish a theoretical relationship between cities and their river, especially on the river's role in the process of urbanization in China
