Ecohydrology has experienced considerable development since the original conception was promoted by Ingram HAP in 1987. “Ecohydrology and environment sustainability” has even become one of the primary themes of the seventh phase of UNSCO/IHP that started in 2007.Given the significant advances achieved during the last decades, the development of ecohydrology was reviewed in this paper from the concept evolution, to terminology and its implications. Current scientific issues and recent advances in ecohydrological experimental observations were also introduced in respects of water cycle and biogeochemistry cycle, interactions between hydrology and ecological processes, coupling between hydrological process and life processes, and green water and its ecological significances. At the end of this paper, future potential research directions and vision for the ecohydrology of the Heihe river basin were discussed and highlighted.