The carapace of the female Chinese turtle is short and wide, the plastron is flat without depression, the tail is thin and short, the base of the tail is thin, the cloaca is closer to the rear edge of the plastron, and the two anal shields of the plastron are notches. Shallower, with a larger notch angle.

Male Chinese turtles have long and narrow carapaces, and their plastrons are slightly concave inwards. The tail is thick and long, the base of the tail is thick, the cloaca is far away from the rear edge of the plastron, the notch formed by the two anal shields of the plastron is deep, and the notch angle is small.