To　prevent　the　degradation　and　destruction　of　ecosystems,　ecological　restoration　has　become　a　worldwide　issue.　In　recent　years,　China　has　been　comprehensively　carrying　out　relevant　work　on　national　spatial　ecological　restoration　planning,　among　which　the　work　on　ecological　restoration　zoning　can　provide　strong　support　for　the　implementation　of　ecological　restoration　strategies.　We　propose　a　theoretical　framework　and　technical　route　for　ecological　restoration　zoning　from　the　hydro-ecological　perspective,　and　suggest　forming　a　regional　ecological　restoration　zoning　system　based　on　the　watershed　as　the　basic　unit　and　the　dynamic　evolution　process　of　hydro-ecology　as　the　core.　We　conduct　an　empirical　study　in　Yanqing　District,　Beijing.　The　results　show　that:　(i)　From　2000　to　2022,　the　hydro-ecological　comprehensive　index　of　Yanqing　District　shows　an　upward　trend.　In　terms　of　spatial　pattern　changes,　it　roughly　shows　a　rising　trend　in　the　northeastern　and　southern　mountainous　areas,　and　a　downward　trend　in　the　central-western　and　southwestern　basins.　(ii)　Six　types　of　ecological　restoration　zones　are　formed　with　the　watershed　as　the　basic　unit.　Zone　Ⅰ　accounts　for　the　largest　area　(26.87%),　and　Zone　Ⅵ　accounts　for　the　smallest　proportion　(7.14%).　(iii)　The　proportion　of　areas　with　good　or　superior　hydro-ecology　in　the　Ecological　Policy　Zone　of　Yanqing　District　increased　by　15.89%　from　2000　to　2022,　which　is　significantly　higher　than　the　average　level,　confirming　the　effectiveness　of　ecological　policies　such　as　nature　reserves.　This　study　provides　a　paradigm　for　ecological　restoration　zoning　from　the　hydro-ecological　perspective,　and　provides　assistance　for　regional　ecological　restoration　and　sustainable　development　in　China　and　even　globally.　©　2023　The　Author(s)