A Gram stain-positive, rod-shaped and motile bacterium, designated SYSU G01003(T)was isolated from a sediment sample collected from tepid spring in Tengchong, Yunnan province, southwestern China. Growth observed at temperature ranging 28-37 degrees C (optimum 37 degrees C) and pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum pH 7.0). Tolerance to NaCl was up to 2.5% (w/v) (optimal in the absence of NaCl). The cell wall peptidoglycan ismeso-2,6-diaminopimelic acid and MK-7 as the only respiratory quinone. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified aminophospholipid, phospholipid, and polar lipid. The major fatty acids are C(16:0,)anteiso-C(15:0)and C-14:0. The genomic DNA G + C content of the type strain was 54.0 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANIb and ANIm) values between SYSU G01003(T)andPaenibacillus azotifigensLMG 29963(T)were below the cut-off level (95-96%) recommended as the average nucleotide identity (ANI) criterion for interspecies identity. Based on the above results strain SYSU G01003(T)represents a novel species of the genusPaenibacillus, for which the namePaenibacillus yunnanensissp. nov. is proposed. The type strain, SYSU G01003(T)(=KCTC 43132(T) = CGMCC 1.17384(T)).