Blooming bougainvillea create a pretty scene on the streets of Qianxinan. [Photo/zgqxn.com]

The bougainvillea, an ornamental vine, is the official flower of Shenzhen, Huizhou and Jiangmen – and it might as well be for the Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture.

The plant is found commonly in the prefecture and its colorful flowers can be spotted seemingly at every turn.

Bougainvillea is a genus of thorny ornamental vines with flower-like spring leaves near its flowers. The actual flowers of the plant are small and are generally white, but each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three to six pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white or yellow bracts.

The warm and moist climate makes Qianxinan a suitable place to grow bougainvillea. The plant can be found in bloom on the tops of the walls and cliffs, and along streams all year round, adding color and vigor to the prefecture in Southwest China.