Abstract: Peristylus is a genus of over 60 species, mainly distributed in the Old World tropics, with many species extending northwards to central China. In the present paper, the taxa of the genus hitherto recorded in China are taxonomically and phytogeographically dis- cussed and revised, and, as a result, 20 species are recognized, including one new species, P. jinchuanicus K. Y. Lang, and four new combinations, P. bulleyi (Rolfe) K. Y. Lang, P. for- restii (Schltr.) K. Y. Lang, P. longiracemus (Fukuyama)  K.  Y.  Lang and  P. neotineoides (Ames et Schltr.) K. Y. Lang. A full list of synonyms is given, a key to the species is pro- vided and the distribution areas in China of all the taxa are mapped.