Abstract:were summarized by literature investigation, and the effects of wetland substrate and plants on the oper⁃ation of the tail water wetland were discussed. Based on the CNKI database, the literatures related towetland substrate and plants were analyzed by bibliometric method. The existing research results showthat tail water wetlands not only have good removal effects on conventional pollutants such as COD, butalso can effectively remove some emerging contaminants such as antibiotic. However, the removal effectof TN is limited by the available carbon source and dissolved oxygen in the tail water. The operation ef⁃ficiency of tail water wetland is affected by the type and combination of substrate, plant species andtemperature. The focus of existing research has gradually shifted from mechanism and treatment effect toadvanced treatment and plant carbon source. Strengthening the denitrification effect of substrate and re⁃source utilization of plants will become the research hotspots. Close-