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The Dunhuang Yangguan Nature Reserve Wetland of northwest China is typical of an inland wetland imbedded in arid desert ecosystems, is vulnerable and sensitive to change. Based on field surveys, a study was conducted to understand community floristic characteristics, species diversity and the effects of disturbance in the Dunhuang Yangguan Reserve Wetland. A total of 74 vascular plant species were identified, belonging to 65 genera and 29 families. Herbs constituted -77.03% of the recorded species. Two families, Gramineae and Chenopodiaceae, dominated the flora, constituting 29.72% of the total. Six plant communities were divided by two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) techniques. The community species diversity indices were relatively low, but varied widely from each other. In addition, the effects of disturbance indicated that the community diversity indices were higher with intermediate disturbance at the community level. This reflected a disturbance-diversity relationship and thus revealed the importance of maintaining a certain level of disturbance to conserve species diversity of these communities. This study provides a theoretical basis for improving conservation strategies for local plant communities and providing information to support the sustainable use of wetland resources in the Dunhuang Yangguan Nature Reserve.