A method for paging, characterized by comprising: obtaining, by a first access network device, a tracking area list of a terminal device; and determining, by the first access network device according to the tracking area list, a target paging area for the first access network device to initiate paging to the terminal device; wherein the obtaining, by the first access network device, the tracking area list of the terminal device, comprises: receiving, by the first access network device, the tracking area list sent by a core network device; wherein the tracking area list is carried in context information of the terminal device; wherein the method further comprises: initiating, by the first access network device, paging to the terminal device within the target paging area, when the terminal device is in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, inactive state and there exists downlink data which needs to be sent; wherein before receiving, by the first access network device, the tracking area list sent by the core network device, the method further comprises: sending, by the first access network device, a request for obtaining the tracking area list to the core network device. obtaining, by a first access network device, a tracking area list of a terminal device; and determining, by the first access network device according to the tracking area list, a target paging area for the first access network device to initiate paging to the terminal device; wherein the obtaining, by the first access network device, the tracking area list of the terminal device, comprises: receiving, by the first access network device, the tracking area list sent by a core network device; wherein the tracking area list is carried in context information of the terminal device; wherein the method further comprises: initiating, by the first access network device, paging to the terminal device within the target paging area, when the terminal device is in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, inactive state and there exists downlink data which needs to be sent; wherein before receiving, by the first access network device, the tracking area list sent by the core network device, the method further comprises: sending, by the first access network device, a request for obtaining the tracking area list to the core network device. receiving, by the first access network device, the tracking area list sent by a core network device; wherein the tracking area list is carried in context information of the terminal device; wherein the method further comprises: initiating, by the first access network device, paging to the terminal device within the target paging area, when the terminal device is in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, inactive state and there exists downlink data which needs to be sent; wherein before receiving, by the first access network device, the tracking area list sent by the core network device, the method further comprises: sending, by the first access network device, a request for obtaining the tracking area list to the core network device. initiating, by the first access network device, paging to the terminal device within the target paging area, when the terminal device is in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, inactive state and there exists downlink data which needs to be sent; wherein before receiving, by the first access network device, the tracking area list sent by the core network device, the method further comprises: sending, by the first access network device, a request for obtaining the tracking area list to the core network device.