<p>Outcrop shale and core sample studies have shown that natural fracture (NF) is a key factor influencing the productivity of shale oil and gas reservoirs. When hydraulic fracture (HF) intersects with NF, the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) after fracturing can expand significantly due to the opening of pre-existing NF. As a result, production of oil and gas often exceeds expectations based solely on the matrix properties of low-porosity and low-permeability shales. While previous studies have laid a theoretical and experimental foundation for understanding fracture intersection behavior, most of them have focused on how experimental parameters influence fracture propagation patterns, with limited attention paid to the role of NF slip characteristics in determining intersection outcomes. To address this gap, we conducted HF–NF interaction experiments using outcrop shale from the Chang 7 Member of the Ordos Basin. A single HF was induced to intersect a pre-existing through-going NF within the rock sample. By systematically varying the approach angle, the distance between the injection point and the NF, the NF cementation strength, the confining pressure, and the injection rate, we investigated how slip behavior affects HF propagation paths. We further proposed threshold ranges of slip distance and slip rate under laboratory conditions that are associated with different HF–NF interaction outcomes. This study provides critical experimental evidence and mechanistic insights for improving fracture interaction theory, optimizing field fracturing designs, and building more accurate numerical models of fracture networks. It holds significant theoretical and practical value.</p>