The　distribution　of　beddings　varies　greatly　in　shale　reservoirs.　The　influence　of　beddings　on　hydraulic　fracture　propagation　has　often　been　studied　using　simplified　geological　models,　i.e.,　uniformly　distributed　bedding　models.　However,　the　propagation　processes　of　hydraulic　fractures　in　shale　reservoirs　with　complicated　distributed　beddings　remains　unclear.　In　this　research,　an　outcrop-data-based　bedding　model　of　a　continental　shale　formation　in　the　Ordos　Basin,　China,　is　built.　A　mathematical　model　for　fracture　propagation　is　built　using　the　discrete　element　method　and　is　then　verified　by　a　hydraulic　fracturing　experiment.　Reservoir-scale　simulations　are　employed　to　investigate　the　influence　of　geological　factors　and　engineering　factors　on　fracture　geometry.　The　study　finds　that　beddings　have　significant　inhibitory　effects　on　fracture　height　growth;　hydraulic　fractures　have　difficulty　in　breaking　through　zones　with　densely　distributed　beddings.　If　a　hydraulic　fracture　encounters　a　bedding　plane　with　a　larger　aperture,　it　is　more　likely　to　be　captured　and　expand　along　the　weak　interface.　High　vertical　stress　difference　and　a　high　fluid　injection　rate　can　promote　the　vertical　penetration　of　hydraulic　fractures　through　beddings　and　activate　the　bedding　system　to　yield　a　complex　fracture　network.　Increments　in　fluid　viscosity　can　increase　the　resistance　of　fracture　propagation,　thereby　reducing　fracture　complexity.