This species inhabits large streams and creeks and nearby habitat in the foothills. The newts hide under stones in the water and also live partly on land, where they are found in grass where the ground is damp and covered with decaying leaves. It is not strictly forest-dependent, although it does require a degree of forest cover. Individuals have been found along the forest edge close to human settlements and inside forest parks, which are subject to tourism activities. This species breeds in streams and creeks where the larvae also develop.

This species is known from eastern China, including the provinces of Anhui, Fujian, and Zhejiang, where it occurs at elevations ranging between 200-1,200 m asl. It was previously also thought to occur in Hunan, Chongqing, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, however these records have since been found to represent Paramesotriton longliensis, P. labiatus, and P. zhijinensis (Wu et al. 2009, Raffaëlli 2013). 

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in several nature reserves across its range (J. Yang pers. comm. December 2020). It is bred in captivity in Europe. It is also on the "List of Beneficial or of Important Economic or Scientific Value Terrestrial Wild Animals under States Protection", under the protection of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife", which provides a moderate degree of protection and makes it illegal to collect (China Red List Assessment Workshop June 2019). This species is listed in CITES Appendix II.

Conservation Needed
This species would likely benefit from improved habitat protection at sites where it is known to occur.