The invention discloses an enhancement method suitable for a true color remote sensing image. The enhancement method mainly comprises the following steps: 1, carrying out linear stretching transformation on an input true color remote sensing image; 2, converting the image subjected to linear stretching transformation into an HSI color space; 3, calculating a gradient gray level joint histogram ofthe I component in the HSI color space; 4, adjusting and optimizing the shape of the histogram in a self-adaptive manner according to the statistical characteristics of the gradient gray level combined histogram; 5, remapping the gray value of the I component by using a histogram equalization method to obtain a globally enhanced I component; 6, calculating a gradient difference between the original I component and the global enhanced I component by using a Prewitt operator, and carrying out detail compensation on a gradient descent region of the global enhanced I component to obtain a global and local enhanced new I component; and 7, converting the new I component and the original H and S components into an RGB color space. The true color remote sensing image enhanced by the method is goodin visual effect, real in color and rich in details.