Hydraulic fracturing serves as a pivotal enhancement technique for unconventional reservoirs, where the efficacious deployment of proppants within fractures significantly influences the amplification of stimulation. Notably, the transport dynamics of proppants, especially under the intricate conditions presented by branching fractures, necessitate further elucidation. In light of this, leveraging a sophisticated large-scale visualization physical simulation device of proppant transport and employing orthogonal experimental designs, this investigation delves into the influence of various parameters including pumping rate, sand ratio, particle size and fluid viscosity on proppant transport within main fracture (simulating hydraulic fracture) and branching fracture (simulating natural fracture).The distribution state of proppants is meticulously quantified through parameters such as sand dike leading edge distance (LEQ), equilibrium height (HEQ) and equilibrium time (TEQ).Findings reveal congruent distribution patterns of proppants in both main and branching fractures, albeit with extended TEQ and diminished LEQ in the latter. Predominantly, the pumping rate emerges as the paramount factor affecting sand dike characteristics, wherein reduced rates are conducive to enhanced proppant placement proximal to the wellbore. This study offers invaluable insights for the optimization of hydraulic fracturing operational parameters, thereby contributing to the scholarly discourse on unconventional reservoir stimulation.