Addressing the issue of climate-induced disaster susceptibility within historic districts, this research investigates renewal strategies that integrate traditional water ecological wisdom with contemporary stormwater management technologies. Utilizing an interdisciplinary, diachronic methodology, it systematically analyzes the evolutionary development of China’s historical urban water networks through a comprehensive literature review and comparative case studies. The findings reveal the co-evolutionary patterns between water network morphology and urban/neighborhood functions, disaster mitigation mechanisms, and the spatial translation principles governing human-water relationships, ultimately leading to the formulation of a dual-helix framework that merges traditional wisdom with modern technological advancements . Key findings demonstrate: (1) Traditional water networks have attained multifunctional, adaptive capabilities via their responsive order to Institutional Order regulatory processes, offering a cognitive blueprint for resilient urbanism; (2) Small-scale, decentralized Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) effectively aligns with the spatial configuration of historic districts while improving stormwater management efficiency; (3) A spatial strategy that encompasses “layered adaptation, context-sensitive flexibility, networked coordination, and nested resilience,” in conjunction with public-community co-governance mechanisms, facilitates a balance between heritage preservation and ecological rejuvenation. This study provides both theoretical foundations and practical frameworks for climate-adaptive conservation and organic integration of historic districts with urban development paradigms.