【Objective】The purpose of this study is to clarify the differences in sink-source characteristics and leaf protective enzyme activities of late rice with different tolerance to weak light stress, so as to reveal its tolerance mechanism, and lay a theoretical basis for the selection of new rice varieties with high and stable yield and stress-resistance cultivation.【Method】In order to reveal the effects of weak light stress at different stages on sink-source characteristics and leaf protective enzyme activities in late rice with different tolerance to weak light stress, two late rice were grown with shading at different stages. 【Result】The results showed that weak light stress at different stage exerted great influence on the growth of late rice. Shading at tillering stage decreased tiller number, grain number per panicle and total spikelet number, as well as leaf area and yield. Shading at panicle initiation stage decreased tiller number, grain number per panicle, total spikelet number, leaf area, seed setting rate and the yield. Shading at filling stage reduced the net assimilation rate of leaf, seed setting rate, 1000-grain weight and yield. Weak light stress had a greater influence on the source of late rice than on the sink. The effects of weak light stress on the yield of late rice were as follows: filling stage > PI stage > tillering stage. 【Conclusion】Under weak light stress, the type with strong tolerance could offset the decline of leaf area by increasing leaf length and width, maintaining relatively optimum leaf nitrogen content, and higher protective enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) and a stabilized peroxide(POD) activity in leaf with slight drops in net assimilation rate, strong “source” ability and less yield reduction rate. The stronger capability of leaf area compensation and nitrogen content maintaining, and higher level of protective enzyme activities in leaf are accountable for higher tolerance to weak light stress for rice.