Trees to 30 m tall; trunk to 1.3 m d.b.h.; bark reddish brown, scaly and plated when young, finally dark grayish brown, forming irregular, square, thick plates; crown ovoid-conical, broadly ovoid in old trees; branches spreading; 1st-year branchlets shiny yellowish brown, stout; 2nd-and 3rd-year branchlets reddish brown; winter buds dull brown, ovoid-conical, ca. 15 × 6 mm, slightly resinous, scales white fringed at margin, acuminate at apex. Needles persisting for 3 years, usually 2(or 3) per bundle, straight, slightly twisted, 8-14 cm × 1-1.5 mm, stomatal lines present on all surfaces, resin canals 3 or 4, marginal, occasionally 1 or 2 median, base with persistent sheath initially 5-10 mm, margin finely serrulate, apex acute. Pollen cones yellowish brown, cylindric, 10-18 × 3-4.5 mm. Seed cones solitary or in pairs, pendulous, sessile or very shortly pedunculate, shiny chocolate brown at maturity, narrowly ovoid before opening, ovoid or broadly ovoid when open, 4-6 × 4-7 cm, persistent. Seed scales with apophyses prominent, rhombic, 4-7 mm thick, sharply transversely keeled; umbo dorsal, with a short prickle. Seeds light grayish brown, ellipsoid-ovoid, 4-6 mm; wing 1.5-2 cm. Pollination May, seed maturity Oct of 2nd year.
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A tree. It grows 30 m high. The trunk is 1.3 m across. The bark is dark grey and cracked. The leaves are in groups or 2 or occasionally 3. They are stout and rigid and 6-15 cm long by about 1.5 mm wide. They are slightly twisted. The cones are oblique and 5-6 cm long by 4 cm wide. The seeds are 4-6 mm long. They are slightly flattened.
Open conifer forests in high mountains, forming pure stands above 3,000 metres; at elevations from 2,600-3,500 metres, occasionally ascending to 4,200 metres.
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It is a temperate plant. It grows in the mountains in Yunnan and Tibet in China. Arboretum Tasmania.
Can be grown by cuttings, graftings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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