Canopy seed banks and serotinous adaptations are particularly prominent in fire-prone ecosystems. In this study, we recorded the number of open and closed cones in a P. yunnanensis forest, we observed the ripening year of the cones, and investigated the response of closed cones to high temperatures and forest fires. Closed cones could be retained in the canopy for seven years, and open cones nine years. The germination rate of closed cone seeds decreased with increased serotiny time. The germination rate of seeds from cones retained in the canopy for nine years was 2.9%. There were about 100,000 viable seeds in the canopy seed bank per 100-m² plot, which was two times higher than the annual seed production. From every cohort, some of the cones would release seeds, and all seeds were released within eight years after maturation. The serotinous cones of P. yunnanensis could be induced to open with high temperatures (over 40℃). With increasing temperatures, the time to open the cones decreased. The number of released seeds in post-fire plots was 2.6-fold higher than in unburned plots. In addition, the rate of germination was (69.8±22.8)% for released seeds in post-fire plots. These results suggest that P. yunnanensis is a weakly serotinous species. Fire significantly increased the release of seeds form the canopy seed bank, whereas the serotiny time was similar to seed longevity in closed cones. Furthermore, released seeds in the post-fire and unburned plots originated from cones that ripened in different years. In sum, the serotinous cones for P. yunnanensis were adapted to fire in fire-prone habitats.