GaN nanoparticles, 3-8 nm in diameter, are prepared by a microwave-assisted reaction of GaCl3 and KNH2 in ionic liquids. Instantaneously after the liquid-phase synthesis, the β-GaN nanoparticles are single-crystalline. The band gap is blue-shifted by 0.6 eV in comparison to bulk-GaN indicating quantum confinement effects. The GaN nanoparticles show intense green emission with a quantum yield of 55 ± 3%.