[3][4] Fokienia hodginsii is native from southeastern China (provinces of Zhejiang, Guizhou, Yunnan and Fujian) to Northern Vietnam (provinces of Ha Bac, Hà Giang, Hà Tĩnh, Hòa Bình, Sơn La, Nghệ An, Lào Cai, Lai Châu, Thanh Hóa, Tuyên Quang, Yên Bái and Vĩnh Phú), west central Vietnam (provinces of Đắk Lắk, Gia Lai, Lâm Đồng), and west to northern Laos.

The name derives from the old romanised name of Fujian province, China, from where the first specimen was introduced to Europe, collected by Captain Hodgins in 1908.

[3] [4] The tree does not tolerate shade, and requires mild climate and abundant rainfall to grow best.

The wood is very much like that of other cedars in cypress family with a fine, straight grain and distinct aroma.

In Vietnam, it is considered a precious timber because of its characteristic aroma and its exceptional density; therefore it is used to make art works, pieces of furniture, and charcoal of high heat value.

[5] In China, freshly harvested green cypress branches are burned to smoke and cure salted meat[6] and sausage, sometimes in combination with pomelo and tangerine peels.