Tidal　wetlands　provide　a　variety　of　ecosystem　services　to　coastal　communities　but　suffer　severe　losses　due　to　anthropogenic　activities　in　the　Yangtze　River　Estuary　(YRE).　However,　the　detailed　dynamics　of　tidal　wetlands　have　not　been　well　studied　with　sufficient　spatiotemporal　resolution.　Here,　we　proposed　a　rapid　classification　method　that　integrates　the　COntinuous　monitoring　of　Land　Disturbance　(COLD)　algorithm　and　Median　Composite　(MC)　based　on　the　dense　Landsat　time　series　to　track　the　dynamic　processes　of　tidal　wetlands　in　the　YRE　from　1990　to　2020.　The　results　showed　that　the　COLD-MC　demonstrated　remarkable　effectiveness　in　detecting　the　change　of　tidal　wetlands　and　excellent　overall　accuracy　and　kappa　coefficient　ranging　from　90%　to　96%　and　0.89–0.95,　respectively.　The　overall　accuracy　of　change　detection　was　97%　with　an　absolute　error　of　0.4　years.　We　found　that　the　total　area　of　tidal　wetlands　experienced　a　net　loss　of　59.75　km2　in　the　YRE,　but　the　gain　and　loss　of　the　study　period　were　1556.07　and　1615.82　km2,　respectively.　Land　reclamation,　sediment　reduction,　and　Spartina　alterniflora　invasion　pose　significant　threats　to　tidal　wetlands.　Sustainable　management　could　be　implemented　through　the　establishment　of　nature　reserves　and　ecological　sediment　enhancement　engineering　projects.　©　2024　The　Author(s).　Published　by　Informa　UK　Limited,　trading　as　Taylor　&　Francis　Group.