Abstract: Spring settlement based on the pattern of ancestors living around springs, and its space formed on the exposed spring have regional characteristics. Based on dual demands of water use and flood control, spring settlements intend to maximized efficient utilization of water resources and rapid resolution of water disasters, and accumulated a serious of ecological wisdom in the process of adaption to and transformation of regional water environment. From water adaptability, this research analyzes various restrictive factors of water adaptation from different levels, which are settlement site selection of water adaption on macroscale, settlement space of water adaption on mesoscale and settlement landscape of water adaptable on microscale. And we comb out water adaptation system and acquire conclusions that water use divided by function, quality and time. Then we summarize the water adaptive ecological wisdom of spring settlements, which are the water adaptation principles that are compatible with nature, the water adaptation system that matches the whole, and the diversified landscapes that are the same as springs. They may provide some references for the protection and renewal of spring settlements, and the modernized construction of villages and towns.