The Chinese dormouse was described from subalpine forest in northern Sichuan. Its original description notes large eyes and a tail ending in a tuft of dense fur.
The original specimens had large eyes and long whiskers. The tail was slightly longer than the body, with a tufted end and dense fur along it.
The original account places it in mixed conifer and broadleaf subalpine forest, nesting in trees and active mainly at night. Plant material and starch were reported from stomach contents.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.