Shorea chinensis Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci. 21: 503. 1922, not (H. Wang) H. Zhu (1992); Hopea austroyunnanica Y. K. Yang & J. K. Wu; H. boreovietnamica Y. K. Yang & J. K. Wu; H. daweishanica Y. K. Yang & J. K. Wu; H. guangxiensis Y. K. Yang & J. K. Wu; H. hongayensis Tardieu; H. jianshu Y. K. Yang et al.; H. mollissima C. Y. Wu; H. pingbianica Y. K. Yang & J. K. Wu; H. yunnanensis Y. K. Yang & J. K. Wu.

Trees 15-20 m tall, with aromatic white resin. Bark grayish black, smooth. Branchlets reddish brown, white lenticellate, gray stellate-pubescent, gray tomentellate, or glabrous. Petiole dark brown, ca. 1 cm, glabrous or sparsely or densely yellowish pubescent; leaf blade 7-26 × 2-8 cm, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, leathery, abaxially sparsely pubescent or glabrous, adaxially glabrous or both densely stellate-pubescent, lateral veins 8-12 pairs, conspicuously raised abaxially, base rounded or cuneate, slightly asymmetric, margin entire, apex acuminate or caudate-acuminate. Panicle axillary, few flowered, 4-18 cm, slender, sparsely or densely pubescent, with ciliate margin. Sepals imbricate, ovate, glabrous or pubescent. Petals reddish, elliptic, 3-4 mm, yellow tomentose on parts exposed in bud. Stamens (10-)15; anthers ovoid, subequal; connective appendages aristate, ca. 3 × as long as anther. Ovary ovoid; stylopodium cylindric, slightly swollen, glabrous, ca. 2 × as long as ovary; style short, tapering. Fruit dark brown, ovoid, apiculate; winglike calyx segments oblong-lanceolate or oblong, 8-12 × ca. 2.5 cm, longitudinally 12-veined, glabrous, apex rounded. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Oct-Dec.

This is an endangered species threatened by timber exploitation. The durable wood is used for making boats, furniture, and building bridges.

Valley forests, forests on mountain slopes, hills; 300-600 m. S and SW Guangxi, S and SE Yunnan (Jiangcheng, Lüchun, Pingbian) [N Vietnam].