It is a small- or medium-sized tree up to 15 m (49 ft) tall that occurs in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and eastern China (Anhui, Fujian, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces).

The species has a large extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1,235,974 km2, and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 68 km2.

[1] Its typical habitat is lowland evergreen forest between 300 and 1,000 meters elevation.

[1] Cinnamomum tenuifolium is affected by habitat loss from deforestation and conversion of forests to agriculture and plantations.

Despite declining habitat, the species' conservation status is assessed Least Concern in consideration of its wide extent of occurrence and large number of locations.