Wetland soils represent globally significant stocks of carbon, and an understanding of carbon cycling in the ecosystems has important implications for global climate change. Soil carbon mineralization is one of the important parts of the carbon cycle in wetland ecosystem. However our knowledge of the ecological processes that control carbon mineralization in wetland soil is limited. This paper reviews the intrinsic mechanisms of biogenic elements and biological factors which affect soil carbon mineralization in wetlands. The active organic carbon pool in the soil was an important sensitive indicator of carbon mineralization. The biogenic elements (N, S and P) were key elements controlling carbon mineralization. The electron acceptors (NO₃^-, SO₄^2-, Fe³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺) contribute to anaerobic carbon mineralization, explained by the reducing conditions found in most wetland studies, but the possible use of organic molecules (e.g., humic acids) as alternative electron acceptors was another potentially important pathway. Animal, plants and microorganism were also important driving factors. The fauna of wetland soil has special function in the decomposition, nutrient mineralization and other ecological processes of soil, which can increase soil carbon mineralization. Microbial biomass and its active control of organic detritus decomposition in soil were strongly correlated with carbon mineralization. Plant material can also alter the soil carbon mineralization rate by influencing microorganism activity by aeration near plant roots. It was noted that invasion by exotic species may influence soil carbon pools and soil carbon mineralization but results are inconsistent. Soil carbon mineralization in wetland ecosystems appear to be controlled by biogenic elements, biological factors, and interacting physical factors, e.g. soil temperature, moisture, pH and texture. Finally, we point out the problems that currently exist in studying the relationship between wetland soil carbon mineralization and controlling variables and present some proposals for further study.