This monal is restricted to mountains of central China.

The male has a large drooping purple crest, a metallic green head, blue bare skin around the eyes, a reddish gold mantle, bluish green feathers and black underparts.

The female is dark brown with white on its throat.

[3] The scientific name, lhuysii, commemorates the French statesman Édouard Drouyn de Lhuys.

[4] Due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, limited range and illegal hunting, the Chinese monal is evaluated as vulnerable on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.