A message sending method, comprising: receiving, by a distributed node, DU, a first message and indication information from a central node, CU, wherein the indication information comprises a first message type of the first message, a first scheduling information, a signaling radio bearer, SRB, identifier and a terminal identifier that correspond to the first message; and sending, by the DU, the first message based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier, wherein the indication information further includes a cell identifier and the sending, by the DU, the first message based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier is: sending, by the DU based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier, the first message in a cell corresponding to the cell identifier, or the indication information further includes a network standard and the sending, by the DU, the first message based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier is: sending, by the DU, the first message based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier by using a wireless technology corresponding to the network standard, and wherein the method further comprises sending, by the DU, a setup request message of a tunnel to the CU, where the setup request message includes the first message type of the first message and the terminal identifier, and the indication information includes an identifier of the tunnel. receiving, by a distributed node, DU, a first message and indication information from a central node, CU, wherein the indication information comprises a first message type of the first message, a first scheduling information, a signaling radio bearer, SRB, identifier and a terminal identifier that correspond to the first message; and sending, by the DU, the first message based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier, wherein the indication information further includes a cell identifier and the sending, by the DU, the first message based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier is: sending, by the DU based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier, the first message in a cell corresponding to the cell identifier, or the indication information further includes a network standard and the sending, by the DU, the first message based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier is: sending, by the DU, the first message based on the first message type, the first scheduling information, the SRB identifier and the terminal identifier by using a wireless technology corresponding to the network standard, and wherein the method further comprises sending, by the DU, a setup request message of a tunnel to the CU, where the setup request message includes the first message type of the first message and the terminal identifier, and the indication information includes an identifier of the tunnel.