This study reports the identification and characterization of a filovirus (DEHV) in Chinese fruit bats, highlighting its distinct genomic features and phylogenetic position. DEHV was isolated from *Rousettus leschenaultii* bats in orchards near human settlements in Yunnan province, China. The virus has a large genome size and shares low sequence identities with other filoviruses, forming a separate branch in phylogenetic trees. DEHV is highly tropic for various cell types and uses the Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) receptor for entry. Serological surveys in bats showed cross-reactivity between DEHV, *Mengla virus* (MLAV), and *Marburg virus* (MARV), suggesting a natural circulation sphere of diverse filoviruses in southern Yunnan and neighboring regions. The study emphasizes the importance of bats as natural hosts for filoviruses and the need for further research to understand their potential spillover risks to humans and other animals.This study reports the identification and characterization of a filovirus (DEHV) in Chinese fruit bats, highlighting its distinct genomic features and phylogenetic position. DEHV was isolated from *Rousettus leschenaultii* bats in orchards near human settlements in Yunnan province, China. The virus has a large genome size and shares low sequence identities with other filoviruses, forming a separate branch in phylogenetic trees. DEHV is highly tropic for various cell types and uses the Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) receptor for entry. Serological surveys in bats showed cross-reactivity between DEHV, *Mengla virus* (MLAV), and *Marburg virus* (MARV), suggesting a natural circulation sphere of diverse filoviruses in southern Yunnan and neighboring regions. The study emphasizes the importance of bats as natural hosts for filoviruses and the need for further research to understand their potential spillover risks to humans and other animals.