The gate and valve serve as the core operational components of water-saving locks, enduring complex hydrodynamic loads. Their safety and reliability directly impact the safety and efficiency of navigation. With the development of locks towards larger scales and higher water heads, the gate and valve technology has become a critical challenge and decisive factor in constructing large-scale, high-head locks. The article summarizes and analyzes the urgent technical demands posed by the construction of large-scale water-saving ship locks on gates and valves, particularly in terms of high head and large-scale development. It also highlights key challenges related to structural safety, stability, and durability, as well as intelligent and digital monitoring. It proposes future development directions in several key areas, including gate and valve types suitable for ultra-high-head water-saving locks, the integrated “gate-mechanical-electrical-hydraulic” coupling system for large-scale gates and valves, hydraulic safety assurance and resilience enhancement of valves, and field monitoring and intelligent operation and maintenance of gates and valves in water-saving ship locks.