Previous studies on riparian zone in a reservoir focus mainly on eco-environmental changes and routine economical usage. In China,one of the main utilizations on riparian zone caused by the construction of large-scale hydropower project is the tourism development. However,little attention has been paid to the potential and long-term influences of riparian zone on tourism. This paper takes the riparian zone in Three Gorges reservoir for example,which is the largest one both in area and fluctuation in China. The authors point out the passive influences of riparian zone on tourist attraction,tourist environment,and tourist management and the possible use opportunities,and stress that tourism development in reservoir area should circumvent the passive influences and take rational use of riparian zone.