A method for sending timing reference information, wherein the method is used in a communications system comprising two cells with different downlink channel timings, wherein the two cells both adopt a hybrid automatic repeat request process in high speed downlink packet access to perform downlink transmission, and the method comprises: acquiring SFN-SFN observed time difference reported by a mobile terminal; generating timing reference information according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference, wherein the timing reference information comprises identifier information of a timing reference cell, wherein the generating timing reference information according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference specifically comprises: generating a subframe pairing relationship of the two cells according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference; determining, according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference and the subframe pairing relationship, a time sequence relationship of two mutually paired subframes in the two cells; determining an anterior cell and a posterior cell in the two cells; determining, according to a scheduling period of a hybrid automatic repeat request process of the anterior cell, one of the anterior cell and the posterior cell as the timing reference cell and the other as a paired cell; and generating the timing reference information according to the identifier information of the timing reference cell; and sending the timing reference information to the mobile terminal. acquiring SFN-SFN observed time difference reported by a mobile terminal; generating timing reference information according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference, wherein the timing reference information comprises identifier information of a timing reference cell, wherein the generating timing reference information according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference specifically comprises: generating a subframe pairing relationship of the two cells according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference; determining, according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference and the subframe pairing relationship, a time sequence relationship of two mutually paired subframes in the two cells; determining an anterior cell and a posterior cell in the two cells; determining, according to a scheduling period of a hybrid automatic repeat request process of the anterior cell, one of the anterior cell and the posterior cell as the timing reference cell and the other as a paired cell; and generating the timing reference information according to the identifier information of the timing reference cell; and sending the timing reference information to the mobile terminal. generating a subframe pairing relationship of the two cells according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference; determining, according to the SFN-SFN observed time difference and the subframe pairing relationship, a time sequence relationship of two mutually paired subframes in the two cells; determining an anterior cell and a posterior cell in the two cells; determining, according to a scheduling period of a hybrid automatic repeat request process of the anterior cell, one of the anterior cell and the posterior cell as the timing reference cell and the other as a paired cell; and generating the timing reference information according to the identifier information of the timing reference cell; and sending the timing reference information to the mobile terminal.