This small warbler breeds in highland forests of mainland China; a separate subspecies is recorded in Taiwan. It stays hidden in dense bamboo undergrowth during the breeding season, when its song can reveal its presence.
The mainland nominate form has a rufescent-brown head and tail, an olive rump and lower back, a pale eyebrow, and a dark eye-stripe. Its belly, flanks and undertail are pale yellow.
During breeding it occupies misty evergreen forest with thick bamboo undergrowth and is difficult to see. The account reports breeding above about 1,850 m on the mainland and above about 2,500 m in Taiwan, and describes a descent to lower elevations in winter.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.