Trees to 50 m tall; trunk to 2.5 m d.b.h.; bark dark gray, rough, longitudinally fissured, flaking; crown oblate; branchlets initially yellowish gray, yellow, or light gray, turning gray or light brown in 2nd or 3rd year, pubescent or glabrous. Leaves usually pectinately arranged, linear, 2-5 cm × 3-4.5 mm, stomatal lines few or none adaxially, 20-32 in each band abaxially, margin slightly revolute, apex obtuse or slightly emarginate. Seed cones cylindric or ovoid-cylindric, (5-)8-21 × (3.5-)4-6 cm. Seed scales at middle of cones subcordate or rhombic-subcordate, 2.5-3.2 × 2.2-2.8 cm, glabrous or ± pubescent abaxially, distal margin entire or slightly denticulate, apex ± narrowed, often reflexed. Seeds oblong, 1-1.5 cm × 6-8 mm; wing light brown, semitrullate. Pollination Mar, seed maturity Oct-Nov.

The timber is used for construction, bridge building, furniture, and wood fiber.

* Hills, mountains, hot and dry valleys; 200-1500 m. SE Gansu, N Guangxi, Guizhou, W Hubei, SW Hunan, S Shaanxi, SE Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan