Video picture processing method and apparatus

A video picture processing method includes: sampling an initial picture, to obtain a target picture; dividing the target picture, to obtain a plurality of sub-pictures; extending picture borders of a first-category sub-picture, to obtain an extended first-category sub-picture; downsampling the extended first-category sub-picture, to obtain a downsampled first-category sub-picture; encoding a second-category sub-picture and the downsampled first-category sub-picture, to obtain bitstreams; and writing location information and extension information of the plurality of sub-pictures into the bitstreams, where extension information of the first-category sub-picture is used to indicate that the picture borders of the first-category sub-picture have been extended and indicate extension widths of the picture borders, and extension information of the second-category sub-picture is used to indicate that picture borders of the second-category sub-picture have not been extended.