ˈɛlɪəts fˈɛzənt ɪz ɛndˈɛmɪk tə sˈaʊθˈiːstɚn tʃˈaɪnə ɡˈɪʒuː, hjˈuːbeɪ, ˈænhjuːi, ʒˈɛdʒjɑːŋ, fˈuːdʒiən, dʒjˈɑːŋksi, huːnˈɑːn, ɡwˈɑːŋksi ænd ɡwˈɑːŋdɑːŋ pɹˈɑːvɪnsᵻz, wˌɛɹ ɪt lˈɪvz ɪn ˈɛvɚɡɹˌiːn ænd mˈaʊntɪn fˈɔːɹɪsts æɾ ˈæltɪtˌuːdz ʌv .
Elliot's pheasant is endemic to south-eastern China (Guizhou, Hubei, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi and Guangdong provinces), where it lives in evergreen and mountain forests at altitudes of .