The black-backed white-ringed snake is a medium-sized snake with a slender body, a total length of 620-880 mm, and a maximum length of 1 meter. The head is broad and flat, the snout is blunt, the head and neck are clearly distinguished, and the pupils are round.

The back of the black-backed white ringed snake is black or dark brown or black gray, The back of the head is brown, and the upper lip is white; from the back of the neck to the tail, there are many wavy transverse spots, which are white at the front, gray-green and light brown with a white edge at the back, and become a complete ring at the tail. The ventral surface is white or yellowish-white or grayish-white, with black spots scattered after the middle, and the spots are dense backward, and gray-black to the tail.