Based on the split-step Fourier method and small signal analysis, an improved analytical solution which describes the cross-phase modulation (XPM) intensity is derived. It can suppress the spurious XPM intensity modulation efficiently in the whole transmission fiber. Thus it is more coincidence with the practical result. Furthermore, it is convenient, because it is independent of channel separation and the dispersion and nonlinear effects interact through the XPM intensity. A criterion of select the step size is described as the derived XPM intensity modulation being taken into account. It is non-uniform distribution and is the function of average signal power <P(z)> (or z). Compared with the conventional split-step method, the simulation accuracy is improved when the step size is determined by the improved XPM intensity.