Hydraulic　fractures　at　the　bedding　interface　in　layered　shale　will　give　rise　to　various　phenomena　including　penetration,　diversion　and　offset　which　significantly　influence　the　production　of　shale　gas　exploitation.　It　is　persistent　challenge　to　simulate　the　uncertain　fracture　propagation　paths　induced　by　hydraulic　fracturing　when　encountering　interfaces.　In　this　study,　an　alternative　peridynamic　model　is　proposed　to　investigate　the　interfacial　crack　propagation　by　hydraulic　fracturing　in　layered　shale.　The　water　pressure　loading　process　is　described　through　equivalently　transforming　the　water　pressure　applied　on　fracture　surfaces　into　the　water　pressure　density　on　broken　bonds.　The　interface　model　and　its　cracking　criterion　are　derived　by　employing　bilinear　cohesive　zone　model,　which　effectively　characterize　the　interactions　between　rocks　with　different　properties　on　different　sides　of　the　bedding　plane.　The　proposed　model　is　validated　through　comparison　with　experimental　results,　and　then　is　further　employed　to　investigate　the　complex　hydraulic　fracture　propagation　near　bedding　interfaces.　It　is　found　that　smaller　angle　between　hydraulic　fracturing　direction　and　bedding　may　lead　to　better　fracturing　effects　and　higher　gas　extraction　in　layered　shale.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd