Abstract: A rapid Retinex algorithm based on guided filtering is proposed to the question of color distortion and the apparition of halo artifacts in the presence of high contrast edges using exiting Retinex image enhancement. First, this algorithm constructs a optimization color restoration function, and processes brightness image of hue, saturation, and value (HSV) color space using the guided filter that has the function of edge-preserving to estimate the scene illumination, then it obtains the reflection image, finally realizes the night color image enhancement after Gamma correction and color restoration. Experimental results show that this algorithm has good enhancement result and high efficiency, which also has the characteristics of color restoration, enhancement control and edge preserving.