Provided is a method for playing a panoramic picture, the method comprising: acquiring a corresponding non-planar panoramic picture according to a picture acquisition instruction; acquiring picture content from the non-planar panoramic picture, and determining a main presentation axis and a presentation centre of the picture content; creating a cylindrical projection plane by using the main presentation axis and the presentation centre, wherein a cylinder extension direction of the cylindrical projection plane is substantially perpendicular to the main presentation axis, and the centre of the cylindrical projection plane essentially overlaps the presentation centre; converting the non-planar panoramic picture into a cylindrical panoramic picture with the cylindrical projection plane; and executing a playing operation on the cylindrical panoramic picture by using a planar display apparatus.