Abstract: The paid use of natural resource assets is the focus of the reform of the ecological civilization system. From the three aspects of basic attributes, resource utilization and manifestations, the paper clarifies the conceptual connotation of natural resource assets, which is the logical starting point for constructing the system of paid use of natural resource assets. At the macro level, the lack of regulation of public power and the imbalance of the protection of private rights are the main factors that hinder the realization of the paid use of natural resource assets. In practice, the confusion of the value accounting system, the vagueness of the scope of use and the extensive way of use are the real reasons for promoting the paid use of natural resource assets towards the rule of law. To construct a system of the paid use of natural resource assets based on the rule of law, it is necessary to take “regulation of public power” and “autonomy of private rights” as the center, and accurately explain the legal concept of natural resource assets. In addition, it is essential to specify the scope of natural resource assets that are allowed to be used with compensation, establish a mechanism for sharing profits derived from natural resource assets and improve the procedural rules for the paid use of natural resource assets, in order to provide institutional guarantees for safeguarding the rights and interests of national owners and building a beautiful China.