The present invention provides a method for data forwarding. The method includes: transmitting, by a source system, Selected IP Traffic Offload (SIPTO)/Local Internet Protocol Access (LIPA) indication information to a destination system, the SIPTO/LIPA indication information indicating that the source system adopts an optimized user plane network structure; performing, by the destination system, an optimized data forwarding mechanism after receiving the SIPTO/LIPA indication information. According to the present invention, it can be ensured that a system sets up an optimized data forwarding mechanism during a handover process of a terminal.