Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus, and a system for adjusting a channel quality indicator CQI feedback cycle. A CQI adjustment parameter fed back by a base station is received, and it is determined according to the CQI adjustment parameter whether a CQI feedback cycle of a user equipment needs to be adjusted; and when it is determined that the CQI feedback cycle needs to be adjusted, the CQI feedback cycle of the user equipment is adjusted, and an adjusted CQI feedback cycle is sent to the user equipment. Therefore, the CQI feedback cycle of the user equipment is dynamically adjusted, and an uplink throughput rate and cell uplink coverage are increased.