The golden pheasant belongs to the most colorful species of pheasants. Male has a striking golden crest, red lower part of the body and long tail-shaped feathers. The female is unassuming brown-grey. 

The golden pheasant is naturally found in central China, in hilly to mountainous areas. Like the other members of the family of Phasianidae, it mainly moves on the ground and flies to the trees at night. During the year, lives a lonesome life and more individuals can be seen together in spring during bird nesting season, when males court females. Males perform a wedding dance and show females their significant feather collar. The dance is accompanied by a loud croaking singing. 

Despite their colorful coloration, they often escape attention due to staying in the dark stands. They look for the seeds, roots or insects on the ground and dig them out with the strong beak. During the night they sleep in the tree crowns. Pheasants fly violently and quickly, but in danger prefer to run away and hide in the vegetation.