Trees to 30 m tall; trunk to 1 m d.b.h.; bark dark gray, rough, longitudinally fissured; crown pyramidal; branchlets initially orange-red or reddish, turning yellowish gray or yellowish brown in 2nd or 3rd year, ± pubescent. Leaves pectinately arranged in lateral sets, linear, 1.2-3(-4) cm × 2-4 mm, stomatal lines (0-)2-4(-10) adaxially and 12-17 in each band abaxially, apex obtuse, rarely acute or slightly notched. Seed cones cylindric or oblong-cylindric, 6-18(-20) × (3.5-)5-6.5 cm. Seed scales compressed orbicular, rhombic-orbicular, or rarely oblong, thick or thin, (1.8-)2.5-3.2 × (1.8-)2.7-3.5 cm,exposed part glabrous abaxially, margin entire, apex convex, rounded, or rounded-truncate. Seeds oblong, 1-1.3 cm × 5-6 mm; wing yellowish brown, ± cuneate, apex oblique. Pollination Mar-Apr, seed maturity Oct.

A vulnerable species in China. The timber is used for construction and furniture. The species is also cultivated for afforestation and as an ornamental.

Hills, mountains, broad-leaved forests; 200-1400 m. S Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, S Hunan, SW Jiangxi, SE Yunnan, SW Zhejiang [N Vietnam]