[2] The species is most easily confused with R. affinis, from which it is best distinguished by its straight-sided lancet and the relatively short second phalanx of the third digit (< 66% of the length of the metacarpal; Csorba et al. 2003).

Rhinolophus sinicus is divided into the following two subspecies: The Chinese rufous horseshoe bat has a forearm length of 43–56 mm (1.7–2.2 in).

[3] The Chinese rufous horseshoe bat is a social animal, forming colonies of a few individuals up to several hundred.

[3] Additionally this species is a food source of the parasite Sinospelaeobdella, a jawed land leech.

[1] Bats of this species form the natural reservoir of severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus.