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The hydrological patterns of all natural water bodies pulse in variable rhythms of high and low water. The biodiversity of these ecosystems is driven by the changing nature of the environment, allowing different life strategies to coexist, e.g., by the fast reuse of nutrients when aquatic biota flourish in the recently wetted zones and vice versa. Much of the human culture in hydroscapes has developed as an adaptation to this rhythm, e.g., by using the flood‐fertilised floodplains for agriculture or fisheries, or by seasonal migration into or out of the floodplain (transhumance). Technological advances have allowed humans to control, change, or even eliminate this natural water rhythm by building dams, dikes, and canals. Consequently, important ecosystem functions fail, often resulting in failure of human life‐support systems but also in the failure and decline of cultural activities. I argue that the loss of socio‐cultural connectivity to the rhythms of rivers and other hydrosystems occurs in four phases: (i) loss of direct relationships (e.g., uses of waterborne resources), (ii) loss of indirect relationships (cultural activities that are connected to theses uses), (iii) turning away from the river/hydrosystem (often caused by decreased water quality), and (iv) total oblivion (caused by removal or burial of the hydrosystem). Reintegrating more riverine rhythms into human life would not mean to step back in time but rather to find a combination of revised traditional ecological knowledge, learning from nature, changing values in the context of use of natural resources, and innovations. This paper draws on social‐environmental aspects of the River Culture Concept – which attempts to reintegrate respect for the pulsing nature of hydrosystems into modern, sustainable management – and on diverse case studies. Examples are presented on how River Culture Concept approaches may contribute to revitalising socio‐ecological linkages to the rhythm of the waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers are social-ecological systems. Yet, in urban contexts, they have often been degraded to lifeless conduits, failing to promote human-nature interactions. As a countermeasure, river restoration has progressively been implemented globally to improve rivers' ecological quality and rejuvenate human-nature connections. In China, urban river restoration has been facilitated to improve river water quality and enhance nature-based recreation. Despite this nation-driven effort towards restoration, scholarly understanding of whether and how river restoration could align with societal preferences remains scarce. This study examined the social-ecological interactions associated with urban rivers with a social science methodology; a questionnaire survey was conducted at three Water Museums in three Chinese cities in summer 2022 and collected 654 responses from highly educated respondents. The results revealed an appreciation for rivers' environmental and recreational value among urban residents, with childhood experiences playing a role in shaping these evaluations and perceptions. Respondents generally preferred prioritizing biological elements in urban river restoration. They also stress the importance of a balanced approach, integrating nature conservation and recreational functionality while maintaining physical water access. These findings challenge the current approach of urban river restoration in the three Chinese cities, which tend to emphasize aesthetic and recreational aspects over comprehensive ecological considerations. The ANCOVA analysis further indicated that preferences for river restoration are influenced by individuals' perceptions of the positive and negative social-ecological impacts of rivers, emphasizing the need to enhance environmental awareness regarding river ecosystems. Finally, in alignment with China's vision of promoting human-nature harmony, the study advocated for strategies that harmonize ecological functionality with societal needs in urban river management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]