The Yellow River Basin, a vital ecological and economic region in China, plays a key role in the country’s sustainable development. Substantial economic contributions from water conservation, sediment reduction, carbon sequestration, and greening can be estimated. For example, initial estimates suggested that in 2023, the total economic value of water resources was approximately 55.976 billion CNY, while the value of carbon sequestration reached approximately 312.542 billion CNY. Greening products and soil conservation were valued at 83.301 and 5.177 billion CNY, respectively. These valuations underscore the importance of incorporating ecological products into gross domestic product accounting, in line with President Xi Jinping’s vision of ecological civilization and the “Two Mountains Theory”. By promoting a balanced integration of ecological protection and economic development, the Yellow River Basin can serve as a model for sustainable development in China and beyond.