Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communications technologies, provide a method, node, and system for selecting a target cell, which are capable of selecting a candidate cell with signal quality meeting a predetermined standard as a target cell for a UE. The method of the present invention includes: transmitting a detection instruction to a candidate cell, where the detection instruction is used to instruct the candidate cell to detect uplink signal quality of a user equipment (UE); receiving a detection result transmitted by the candidate cell, and determining a target cell according to the detection result. The embodiments of the present invention are mainly implemented in a process of UE handover.