Its natural habitats are shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, rocky shores, and estuarine waters.

[4] The Chinese bahaba is known only from the parts of China from the Yangtze River southwards to Hong Kong.

[1] The Chinese bahaba is threatened by overfishing and it is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

[1][5] Although listed as a Grade II State Protected Species in China, which is supposed to restrict its capture, the sale of recently caught individuals to very high prices still occurs,[1] and is even announced to the media.

[3][6][7] A part of the Pearl River estuary has been protected since 2005 by the Chinese Government in an attempt saving the species.