To improve the development level of inland river shipping in China and explore the new method of integrating the concept of green ecological development into the construction and management of inland river shipping，we introduced the development characteristics and direction of German inland shipping from the aspects of infrastructure，ship capacity，information construction，collection，and distribution system，etc，and summarize the achievements and experience of Germany’s green shipping and green port development. Based on comprehensive consideration of the development status of our inland river shipping，the enlightenments for the development of inland river shipping in China are proposed. These enlightenments include：learning from Germany’s experience in the circulation of trunks and branches，and the construction of communication between water systems；creating a smooth and interconnected information system and improving the coordinated application level of information；developing the rail-water inter-model transportation and improving comprehensive transportation service capabilities，promoting the concept of green ecology and intensifying the research and application of green shipping technology and so on.