To further understand the distribution of Apis cerana cerana in the north valley of the Lancang River, as well as variations in food resources and trophic niche, we investigated honeybee distribution at different altitudes. Using melissopalynology, we studied pollen composition of the honey samples collected from different altitudes. We analyzed the correlations between altitude, food resources, and trophic niche. The associations between the natural environment and A. cerana cerana distribution, altitude, nectar and pollen plants, food resources, and trophic niche were addressed in this study. The results showed that food resources were abundant in the north valley of the Lancang River, and A. cerana cerana mainly inhabited areas between 2,200 to 2,800 m above sea level. The types and quantities of pollen consumed by A. cerana cerana differed by altitude. At the altitude that most A. cerana cerana inhabited, pollen was rich in type but low in quantity. With altitude increasing, the quantity of pollen first decreased and then increased, where as the types first increased and then decreased. Trophic niches of A. cerana cerana were different according to altitude, which might be caused by the differences in plants, pollinating insects, and herbivorous animals. No significant correlations were detected between altitude and trophic niches (r=0.051), altitude and pollen quantity (r=0.047), or altitude and pollen types (r=0.144). Trophic niches were positively correlated with pollen types (r=-0.305, P < 0.05), but not with pollen quantity (r=-0.064). Pollen types in the honey sample were positively correlated with pollen quantity (r=-0.303, P < 0.05).