Coastal wetlands, which are located at the active interface between land, see, and atmosphere, are ubiquitous over the globe, and are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They comprise a vast array of ecosystem types, including intertidal saltmarshes, mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Due to their unique structures and processes, coastal wetlands provide a variety of ecosystem functions and services, and are of great ecological and environmental importance. China has a long coastline, and forms a numerous amount and a large variety of coastal wetland ecosystems. These ecosystems provide important resources and ecological security for coastal zones where societal development is extensively intensive. However, due to climate change and anthropogenic activity, coastal wetlands in China face alarmingly high risks of degradation. Therefore, in this article, we offer a comprehensive review of the main drives of coastal wetland degradation(e.g., coastal land reclamation, coastal engineering, urbanization, aquaculture, invasion of alien species, coastal erosion, pollution, and sea level rise), and have proposed certain strategies(e.g., building with nature, assessment of natural capital, and ecological compensation) that are suitable for the coastal development of our nation. These perspectives provide scientific basis for policy-making regarding sustainable development in coastal areas.