A method and a network device for establishing FlexE path includes a first forwarding node receiving a first path establishment request message sent by a first source node, where the first path establishment request message is used to establish a first FlexE path between the first source node and a first destination node, and the first FlexE path is used to transmit a first service flow; the first forwarding node establishing a second FlexE path between the first forwarding node and a second forwarding node based on the first path establishment request message, and deleting an established third FlexE path between the first forwarding node and the second forwarding node after the second FlexE path is established; and the first forwarding node establishing and storing a correspondence between the first FlexE path and the second FlexE path.