Trees to 30 m tall; trunk to 1 m d.b.h.; branchlets densely arranged, not glaucous, terete, ultimate ones spreading, ascending, or drooping but not pendulous, stout, 1.2-2 mm in diam. Leaves in 4 ranks, scalelike, 1-1.5 mm on ultimate branchlets, arched (gibbous) and with a conspicuous, often darker central abaxial gland, apex usually slightly obtuse, dull green, not glaucous. Pollen cones 2-4 mm; microsporophylls 12-16. Seed cones brown or reddish brown when ripe, not glaucous, globose to subglobose or oblong-ovoid, 1.2-2 cm in diam.; cone scales 8-14, each fertile scale with numerous seeds; bracts with a small, free mucro at apex. Seeds ovate-triangular, flattened, 3-5 × 2-4 mm. 2n = 22*.

A vulnerable species.

* Mountain slopes, valleys; 800-2900 m. S Gansu, N and W Sichuan