To address the problem of insufficient temperature resistance of conventional slickwater fracturing fluid, a type of temperature resistant polymer drag reducer (YTRP) was synthesized by free radical polymerization method. Infrared spectroscopy and other methods were used to analyze its structure, and a temperature-resistant slickwater fracturing fluid system was built with YTRP as the primary agent. Then the comprehensive performance of the system was evaluated. Ultimately, the drag reduction mechanism of YTRP was discovered through rheological experiments and microscopic characterization. The results showed that the slickwater system had superior temperature and shear resistance, compatibility when compared with HPAM of the same molecular weight. In addition, it exhibits excellent drag reduction performance at high temperature (the drag reduction rate was 72.6% at 120℃), low reservoir damage (the core damage rate was only 11.72%) and good anti-swelling performance (the CST ratio was 1.01). Compared with HPAM, YTRP has better molecular flexibility and retains higher structural strength after high temperature environment. Through the synergistic effect of viscosity and elasticity of the polymer drag reducer, the network structure created by the polymer chain can efficiently realize energy storage and release during the interaction with turbulence, which limit energy loss, and achieve better drag reduction effect at high temperature.