A video encoding apparatus includes a first processor and at least two encoders. The first processor is configured to divide a sequence of video frames into M first groups of pictures (GOPs) and send the M first GOPs to the at least two encoders, M being an integer greater than 1. The at least two encoders are configured to perform parallel encoding on the received M first GOPs to obtain M groups of video encoded data and send the M groups of video encoded data to the first processor. The first processor is further configured to merge the M groups of video encoded data into a video data stream.