The removal of conventional pollutants and emerging contaminants by the tail water wetland were summarized by literature investigation, and the effects of wetland substrate and plants on the operation of the tail water wetland were discussed. Based on the CNKI database, the literatures related to wetland substrate and plants were analyzed by bibliometric method. The existing research results show that tail water wetlands not only have good removal effects on conventional pollutants such as COD, but also can effectively remove some emerging contaminants such as antibiotic. However, the removal effect of TN is limited by the available carbon source and dissolved oxygen in the tail water. The operation efficiency of tail water wetland is affected by the type and combination of substrate, plant species and temperature. The focus of existing research has gradually shifted from mechanism and treatment effect to advanced treatment and plant carbon source. Strengthening the denitrification effect of substrate and resource utilization of plants will become the research hotspots.