General Information about China

The National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNTA), an organization directly subordinated to the State Council of the People's Republic of China, is in charge of the administration of tourist industry in China. Besides its head office in Beijing, China, CNTA has overseas offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Tel-Aviv, Madrid, Singapore and Hong Kong.

With vivid orchid-like blossoms and two-lobed heart shaped leaves, Bauhinia blakeana has been adding its colours to the City of Life for centuries. When the territory returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, the flower was chosen as the emblem for the newly formed Hong Kong SAR.

It is said that a new species of Bauhinia, unique to Hong Kong, was discovered near the seashore at Telegraph Bay on Hong Kong Island in the 19th Century. The species was named Bauhinia blakeana after Sir Henry Blake, governor of Hong Kong from 1898 to 1903, who was a strong supporter of botany.

Distribution in Hong Kong

The Bauhinias mentioned above are common in parks, roadsides and the countryside of Hong Kong. The locations of notable concentrations are shown in the map. All Bauhinias except Bauhinia blakeana produce abundant seeds which germinate readily.

Further information on how to collect Bauhinia seeds and grow Bauhinias yourself can be obtained from http://www.hku.hk/botany/bauhinia/bauhinia.html

They are characterised by two-lobed leaves with veins radiating from the leaf base. 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. candida and Bauhinia blakeana.

Climate of China

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. The northern part of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China has no summer, Hainan Island has a long summer but no winter; the Huaihe River valley features four distinct seasons; the western part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is covered by snow all year round; the southern part of the Yunan-Guizhou Plateau is spring-like all the year; and the northwestern inland region sees a great drop of temperature in the day. Annual precipitation also varies greatly from region to region; it is as high as 1,500 millimeters along the southeastern coast. Decreasing landward, it is less than 50 millimeters in northwest China.

Population

The year of 1998 saw19.91 million births, 8.07 million deaths of the population, with a net growth polulation of 11.84 million (compared with 12.37 million in 1997); More than 10% of total population is over 60 years old (1999 data).

China population is distributed unevenly with more in the east (more than 300 persons per square kilometer) and fewer in the west (about 40 persons per square kilometer. The national average density of population is 119 per square kilometer (1990 census). For basic urban population data, please visit "ChinaToday.com" Provinces and Cities page. The average size of household was 3.7 persons. The proportion of population aged at 0-14 was 26.4 percent, those aged 15-64 was 67.2 percent, and that of the people aged 65 and over was 6.4 percent. The Average Chinese Life-Span of the population was 70.8 years, that for male was 68.71, and female, 73.04. (Some of the above data are based on the report from China National Statistics Bureau, FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY).