Nonlinear insulated materials can uniform electric field distribution in non-uniform electric field. In order to inhibit the electric tree initiation and propagation inside high-voltage cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated cable, a kind of 220kV high-voltage XLPE insulated cable with new structure is designed by embedding nonlinear shielding layer into XLPE insulation layer of high-voltage cable with traditional structure in this study. Experimental and simulation results indicate that the nonlinear shielding layer can effectively inhibit electrical tree propagation inside the XLPE specimens, and obviously extend the breakdown time caused by electric tree propagation. When the electrical tree propagates into the nonlinear shielding layer sandwiched between insulation layers of cable, the electric field distribution near the tip of electrical tree is obviously improved. These findings prove the feasibility and the effectivity of inhibiting electrical tree propagation inside high-voltage cable by adding nonlinear shielding layer into the insulation layer.