Physical simulation experiment technology for transparent soils is one of the important means to study and solve the problem of geotechnical engineering science and technology. Understanding and mastering the present technology development status has an important guiding role to the application and development of future physical simulation experimental technology for transparent soils. In this paper, the basic principle, main contents, engineering application, the current problems and future development trends of the physical simulation test technology for transparent soils was systematic induction and summary classification. Through exploratory research, the transparent sand for laser speckle can be reused, which greatly reduces the experimental cost. The size of model can be increased appropriately under the principle of transparency to reduce the negative influence of the boundary effect. In order to improve the anisotropy and heterogeneity of transparent soil samples, an appropriate amount of air inside the model can be retained on the premise of ensuring the transparency of the model. In the future, the biaxial or true triaxial loading of physical model can be realized by using artificial speckles and digital photographic measurement technology. It is suggested that the engineering properties of transparent soils samples was qualitatively classified and quantitatively tested, and a complete index system was established which corresponding to the mechanical properties of nature soil.