The invention discloses a downlink precoding method for a multi-user distributed MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) multi-antenna system. The method comprises the following steps of S1: deploying M remote antenna units in a community, wherein each remote antenna unit is connected to a central processing unit through an optical fiber, each remote antenna unit is configured with Nm transmitting antennae, m equals 1, 2, ..., M, K active users exist, each user is configured with Lk receiving antennae, and k equals 1, 2, ..., K; S2: adopting a coordinated multi-point transmission method in the community for the system, combining the remote antenna units for sending data to the users, and selecting the required remote antenna unit from all the remote antenna units according to an average path loss minimum principle by using a selective transmission policy to send the data to the users; and S3: adopting a signal-to-interference and noise ratio criterion-based receiving combination method for receiving the data at a receiving end.