The leaves of the Chinese chestnut are smaller than the native chestnut. The leaf base is more rounded and not as acute as the American chestnut. Leaf margins are serrate with bristle-like teeth. Terminal buds are absent. Twigs and buds are brown and pubescent.
Mature bark is grayish-brown and strongly furrowed.
The nuts are sweet and somewhat larger than the native chestnut but not as flavorful. At present, the form and type are inferior for lumber. The tree is branched lower to the ground and is smaller than the American chestnut. The Chinese chestnut rarely reaches 50 feet.