Rural　sewage　treatment　was　traditionally　faced　contradiction　between　low-treatment　rates　and　the　need　for　low-cost　development.　To　address　this　challenge,　we　explored　the　coupling　of　effluent　circulation　and　step-feeding　strategies　in　a　multi-stage　tidal　flow　constructed　wetland　(TFCW)　to　achieve　stable　nitrogen　(N)　removal　performance　under　conditions　of　low　carbon-to-nitrogen　(C/N)　ratios　and　low　temperatures.　The　modified　multi-stage　TFCW　demonstrated　the　ability　to　significantly　reduce　the　concentrations　of　effluent　NH4+-N　and　NO3−-N　by　33.9　%　and　54.8　%　respectively,　resulting　in　values　of　7.47　mg/L　and　3.93　mg/L.　Additionally,　it　achieved　an　average　TN　removal　efficiency　of　69.2　%.　The　improved　N　removal　performance　of　rural　sewage　by　the　modified　multi-stage　TFCW　at　low　temperatures　was　primarily　attributed　to　autotrophic　nitrification,　heterotrophic　nitrification,　and　autotrophic　denitrification.　Among　the　identified　functional　genera,　Nitrosomonas　and　Nitrosospira　played　key　roles　as　autotrophic　nitrification　bacteria　(ANB),　contributing　to　28.2　%　of　NH4+-N　removal.　The　key　heterotrophic　nitrification　bacteria　(HNB)　Acidovorax　and　Rudaea　were　mainly　responsible　for　71.3　%　of　NH4+-N　removal　via　the　two-step　ammonia　assimilation　through　the　organic　nitrogen　pathway.　Furthermore,　Rhodanobacter　and　Acinetobacter　emerged　as　key　autotrophic　denitrification　bacteria　(ADNB),　accounting　for　79.9　%　of　NO3−-N　conversion　and　removal.　In　summary,　this　study　provides　valuable　theoretical　insights　and　supports　ongoing　efforts　in　biological　regulation　to　address　the　challenges　associated　with　rural　sewage　treatment.　©　2023