A method for transmission and reception in parallel on dual channels includes, when detecting that a first channel is occupied by CSMA contention, determining, by an AP, first transmission duration of a first channel data packet. The method additionally includes determining, by means of CCA detection, that a second channel is idle, where the second channel is used to transmit a second channel data packet whose transmission direction is opposite to a transmission direction of the first channel. The method additionally includes determining, by using the first transmission duration, second transmission duration for transmitting the second channel data packet, and transmitting the second channel data packet according to the second transmission duration, where an end time of transmission of the second channel data is not later than an end time of transmission of the first channel data.