The genus Girardia (Tricladida: Dugesiidae) was recorded in China for the first time. A new freshwater turbellarian species, G. sinensis Chen & Wang, sp. nov., is described, which was collected from Xinghu Lake, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China. Observation and analysis of the new species was conducted on morphology, habits, reproduction, histochemistry and molecular phylogenetics. In addition, the results indicated that morphological differences of AChE+ nerve structure can be used as a distinguishable character for species identification of Dugesiidae.