C. trifasciata is distributed in China, but only on the island of Hainan (it is extirpated from the mainland Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian provinces), as well as Hong Kong.

[3] The populations from Vietnam and Laos are now regarded as a separate species, the Vietnamese three-striped box turtle (C.

[4] Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Cuora.

In Hong Kong, C. trifasciata feeds mainly on fishes, frogs, and carrion, but remains of crabs, snails, and insects have also been found in its feces.

Taking into account the registered farms that did not respond to the survey, as well as the unregistered producers, the total numbers must be significantly higher.

[10][14] Most farmed C. trifasciata turtles are hybrids, which can escape and establish populations, causing genetic pollution.