Abstract: Rice is one of the most important food crops in China, and illumination has an important effect on its yield and quality. With the deterioration of the global climate, the low light stress brought by the frequent rainy weather has become an important limiting factor affecting the high and stable yield and high-quality production of rice. The safe, stability and sustainable production of rice is of great significance to ensure food security and satisfy people's demand for food. Therefore, this paper summarizes the research results in recent years. The effects of low light stress on morphological characteristics (roots, stems, leaves, flower organs), physiological characteristics (photosynthetic traits, pollen fertilization, transport of assimilates, starch synthesis), biochemical characteristics (nitrogen metabolism, hormone regulation, photoreceptor regulation, antioxidant system and osmotic regulation), yield and quality of rice were reviewed. This paper focused on the molecular response mechanism of rice under low light stress. This future research direction and hotspot of rice shade tolerance were prospected. It is necessary to further study the adaptation mechanism of rice to low light stress at the genetic level and explore the related shade tolerance genes in the future. The aim of this study was to provide new ideas and strategies for understanding the molecular response mechanism of shade tolerance in rice and breeding shade tolerance varieties. It provides theoretical basis and practical basis for high and stable yield of rice and ensuring national food security.