Abstract: To investigate the effects of light intensity on the chemical composition and sensory quality of yellow sun-cured tobacco leaves during the curing process, yellow sun-cured tobacco leaves from Ningxiang, Hunan Province were used as the test materials. Different light intensities, including shading 25%, supplementary lighting 6 000 lx and supplementary lighting 8 000 lx, were set up in the curing barn to analyze their effects on the quality of yellow sun-cured tobacco leaves. The results showed that there was a negative correlation between the light intensity and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) in tobacco leaves. The color of tobacco leaves treated with 6 000 lx supplemental light was bright yellow with better glossiness and lower greenish degree. The contents of total sugar, reducing sugar, chlorine, potassium, non-volatile terpenes and lipid compounds in tobacco leaves increased significantly, while the contents of total nitrogen and nicotine decreased. The sensory evaluation results showed that the tobacco leaves treated with 6 000 lx supplemental light had good aroma quality and pleasant aftertaste. Therefore, supplementation with light at 6 000 lx can effectively improve the appearance quality of yellow sun-cured tobacco leaves, promote the accumulation of sensory relevant chemical components in tobacco leaves and improve their sensory quality.