A new species of Orchidaceae, Platanthera nanlingensis X.H. Jin & W.T. Jin from Guangdong in southern China is described and illustrated. It is very similar to P. minor, P. whangshanensis, and P. kwangsiensis, but differs by having short and densely flowered inflorescences; white flowers; spreading petals that do not form a hood with the dorsal sepal; a robust, 7.5 mm long spur that is shorter than or subequal to the ovary; a 1.5 mm long column; a narrow anther connective that is much shorter than anther thecae; rather large viscidia with slightly involute margins; and a rostellum with two separate bursicles.