In view of the problem that the shipping demand in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River is large but there are many shoals and rapids leading to insufficient water depth,this paper conducts a study on the minimum navigable water depth of the Luzhou section of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.The minimum designed navigable flow rate for this river section is 3 396 m3/s,which is determined using the comprehensive duration curve method and the guarantee rate frequency method.The numerical model is used to simulate the Bingpanqi,Pangxieqi,and Wayaotan waterways.Based on the water depths of five typical shoal and rapid sections,the response relationship between shoals and rapids and navigable flow is established.It is concluded that when the navigation width of the typical shoal and rapid sections in this river section is 110 m,the corresponding minimum navigable water depth is 3.39 m,which meets the water depth and navigation width standards of Class II waterways.The research results can provide support for the later channel construction planning of the Luzhou section of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and facilitate the construction of high-grade waterways in the Luzhou section.