Abstract: Urban-rural integration at the county level is critical for high-quality regional development. In large irrigation districts, this process is shaped by water constraints, canal networks, and grassroots water governance. Using Hanggin Rear Banner of the Hetao Irrigation Area in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as a case study, this study proposes an analytical framework of 'water infrastructure embeddednessrestructuring of urban-rural systems-high-quality county development', based on historical documents, spatial analysis, and field investigations. Key findings: 1) Canal networks have long structured the spatial layout of county seats, towns, villages, and farmlands, forming the skeleton of urban-rural systems. 2) Under urbanization and water stress, the traditional 'sluice-village-field' coupling faces challenges, including village differentiation, low factor mobility, and governance mismatches. 3) Urban-rural integration requires efficient landwater use as the baseline, value-added agricultural chains as the core, and a coordinated system of 'county seatkey towns-central villages-irrigation zones'. This study expands infrastructure-based explanations of county-level integration and offers insights for transforming irrigation district counties in the Yellow River Basin.