This paper analyzes comparatively the domestic and international typical inland waterway’s characteristics of development stage and each stage’s features on waterway engineering, management techniques and waterways demand, identifies the similarities and differences of development stages among Chinese inland waterways and international typical inland waterways, points out that the differences are mainly due to the development of socio-economic backgrounds, the river natural conditions, management idea and channel positioning in comprehensive transportation system, and proposes that future development of Chinese inland waterways needs to focus on “four-adaptability” thesis.