Abstract: In order to provide technical support to shale gas development in Pengshui Area,physical simulation of hydraulic fracturing of the shale reservoir was carried out and a set of experimental methods was established.The initiation and growth of fractures in shale was monitored on real-time,and the fracture morphology observed by acoustic emission system.In addition,this paper discussed the effect of fluid viscosity,in-situ stress difference and pumping rate of fracturing fluid on the geometrical shape and growth of hydraulic fractures.Experimental results showed that hydraulic fractures might extend along natural fractures and natural fracture might be communicated to form fracture network as the viscosity of fracturing fluid and in-situ stress difference drops.According to the pump pressure curve,this paper put forward a variable pumping rate method to improve simulated reservoir volume(SRV),which provides technical basis for fracturing optimization of shale gas.