The study analyzed how wetland landscapes in the Xiong’an New Area of China changed from 1980 to 2017. They found that beach land decreased significantly, while lake and river wetlands slightly increased. The wetland patches became more scattered and fragmented over time. Socioeconomic factors were the main drivers of these changes, with a cumulative contribution rate of 85.3%. This information is crucial for managing and restoring wetlands in the Xiong’an New Area and similar ecosystems with rivers and lakes.