A novel endophytic actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-J3(T), was isolated from soybean root (Glycine max (L.) Merr) and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strain NEAU-J3(T) fell within the family Micromonosporaceae. The strain was observed to form an extensively branched substrate mycelium, which carried non-motile oval spores with a smooth surface. The cell walls of strain NEAU-J3(T) were determined to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and galactose, ribose and glucose were detected as whole-cell sugars. The major menaquinones were determined to be MK-9(H(4)) and MK-9(H(6)). The phospholipids detected were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were determined to be C(16:0), C(18:1) ω9c, C(18:0), C(17:0), C(17:1) ω7c, anteiso-C(17:0), C(16:1) ω7c and C(15:0). The DNA G + C content was 62.5 mol%. On the basis of the morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and characteristic patterns of 16S rRNA gene signature nucleotides, strain NEAU-J3(T) is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Micromonosporaceae, for which the name Wangella harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Wangella harbinensis is strain NEAU-J3(T) (=CGMCC 4.7039(T) = DSM 45747(T)).