As one of the most important ecosystems in the world, lake wetlands are irreplaceable in flood regulation, environment decontamination, biodiversity conservation, and in the provision of freshwater and food resources. However, lake wetlands hydrological processes have changed drastically as a result of anthropogenic activities and climate change in combination, evidenced by shrinking wetland areas, declining wetland quality, and degraded wetland service functions. Here we summarized the merits and drawbacks of field observations, numerical simulations and remote sensing in deriving key hydrological elements of lake wetlands. The dual effects of human and climate on hydrological processes were discussed dialectically, and typical forms of hydrological processes were analysed incorporating the current hotspot flood and hydrological connectivity issues, and both positive and negative responses of plants, animals and water quality to changing hydrological processes were reviewed. In the forthcoming years, a combination of remote sensing and numerical simulation will lead to a "multi-objective, multi-factor, multi-scale and multi-process" lake wetland monitoring system. Based on extensive observational data, the conversion paths of multi-dimensional hydrological connectivity and their thresholding effects on ecosystem will be quantified. The investigation of nonlinear driving mechanisms behind wetland vegetation-groundwater dynamics will be strengthened. The elasticity and resilience of waterfowls' population will be evaluated considering both habitat area and quality. The ultimate goal is to provide a scientific basis for lake-level regulation and wetland restoration.