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Analyzing the spatial agglomeration characteristics and local spatial structure stability of the inflow and outflow areas of water resources on the basis of quantifying the flow network of water resources can provide theoretical support for formulating safer and more reasonable water resource regulation policies. This paper used the multi-regional input-output model (MRIO) and the exploratory spatiotemporal data analysis method (ESTDA) to calculate the inflow and outflow water footprints of 30 provinces in China from 2002 to 2017, and analyzed China' s water resource flow pattern as well as the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of the spatial agglomeration patterns of the inflow and outflow water footprints. The results showed that: ① The local water footprints accounted for the largest proportion of the total water footprints and showed a steady growth trend, and the inflow and outflow water footprints had an upward-downward trend from 2002 to 2017. ② From 2002 to 2012, the total number of high-level flow paths in the inter-provincial water resource flow patterns in China was larger and more prominent in the network, while in 2017, high-level flow paths were concentrated on a few link paths and in the eastern and western regions, but the breadth of associations did not weaken significantly. ③ The hot spots of the outflow water footprints of China' s provinces gradually shifted from the water-rich areas to the water-scarce areas, while the hot spots of the inflow water footprints were concentrated in the rich-water areas. ④ The LISA time path showed that the local spatial structure of the inflow and outflow water footprints in China' s provinces was relatively stable, and the effect of spatial and temporal dependence was small, showing a trend of coordinated changes. The spatial cohesion of the outflow water footprints was higher than that of the inflow water footprints, but the degree of transfer between the two was relatively large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]