Bauhinias are widely planted as ornamental trees in parks, gardens and roadside verges. They can prevent soil erosion and landslides, serve as sound barriers, shelters and food sources for animals and help attract wildlife to dwell in our city. Mass planting of Bauhinias could also regulate the urban micro-climate to make our living environment more comfortable. The genus Bauhinia has 250 - 300 species of trees, shrubs and climbers. Most commonly found species in Hong Kong include Bauhinia purpurea, Bauhinia variegata, Bauhinia glauca, Bauhinia tomentosa, Bauhinia variegata var.
China lies mainly in the northern temperate zone under the influence of monsoon.
From September and October to March and April next year monsoon blow from Siberia and the Mongolia Plateau into China and decrease in force as it goes southward, causing dry and cold winter in the country and a temperature difference of 40 degree centigrade between the north and south. The temperature in China in the winter is 5 to 18 degree centigrade lower than that in other countries on the same latitude in winter. Monsoon blows into China from the ocean in summer, bringing with them warm and wet currents, thus rain. Great differences in climate are found from region to region owing to China's extensive territory and complex topography. Decreasing landward, it is less than 50 millimeters in northwest China.