Native to northeastern parts of eastern Asia and north Asia.
A rare one here: only 4 on the map (#230 of 384 species).
Show Chinese thuja trees on the map
The wood is used in Buddhist temples both for construction work, and chipped, for incense burning.
Platycladus was often included in Thuja, which is reflected in one of its common names, "oriental thuja". But it is only distantly related to the genus Thuja. Differences include its distinct cones, wingless seeds, and its almost scentless foliage.