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.