The enduring development of limnology and lake science has profoundly demonstrated the importance and necessity of sustained field observation and experimental research. Globally, scientific institutions have established long-term positioning observation field stations, systematically conducting research spanning decades to centuries on the evolutionary mechanisms and sustainable management of lake ecosystems. Notable examples include Flathead Lake, Trout Lake, and Lake Michigan in the United States; Lake Zurich in Switzerland; and Lake Biwa and Lake Kasumigaura in Japan. With the support of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network and the National Science and Technology Infrastructure Center, Chinese scientists have successively established field observation and experimental stations in Donghu Lake (Wuhan), Taihu Lake, Poyang Lake, Dongting Lake, and Liangzi Lake, conducting long-term experimental observations and comprehensive networked research on lake ecosystems. This article systematically reviews the progress of long-term positioning observation and experimental research in lake science globally and in China. Through cross-country, cross-regional, and cross-lake-type case comparisons, it highlights the irreplaceable role of long-term positioning observation in revealing the dynamic changes of lake ecosystems. The study emphasizes that only through cross-regional networked observations, enhanced informatization and intelligence in monitoring, and the integration of observation with simulation models can we deeply analyze the response thresholds and resilience mechanisms of lake ecosystems to climate warming and human activities. This will provide critical scientific support for the protection, ecological restoration, and sustainable use of lakes worldwide, promoting the leapfrog development of lake science from "phenomenon description" to "mechanism analysis" and "predictive early warning." Ultimately, this serves the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and contributes to the building of a Beautiful China.