As the temperature drops, leaves of many urban roadside trees turn yellow and fall down, creating an illusion that autumn had come.

Along Kuiqi Road in Chancheng District, the roadside trees look like some giant yellow umbrellas, stretching out and swaying slightly in the squeeze.

These trees are called terminalia mantaly which can grow 10-20m with an erect stem and neat, conspicuously layered branches. Its flowers are small and greenish. Terminalia mantaly is often used as roadside tree. These trees are planted near Lingnan Avenue, Kuiqi Road, Asia Arts Park (亚艺公园)and Tongji Road.

But why do the leaves turn yellow and fall in spring? According to an expert, the cause of the fallen leaves is not cold but the plants metabolism. Old leaves fall and new sprouts come out.

Anyway, the fallen leaves decorate the streets and people can enjoy beautiful landscapes.

Streets are covered with yellow leaves.

Tread on the crisp fallen leaves and listen to the sounds of an illusionary autumn. How romantic!

Besides Terminalia mantaly, the leaves of kapok, Chinese banyan and Ficus lacor are turning yellow and falling. Foshan city looks like a golden world.

Q&A: Why does the season of falling leaves differ in the south and north?

In the north, one falling leaf indicates the coming of autumn. In autumn, air gets dry and water on the leaf surface evaporates faster. When a leaf loses much water, it falls from the branch to slow the metabolism and the tree will survive the freezing winter.

But winter in the south is not much cold. Trees in the south see few leaves falling. When spring comes and temperature rises, the heat evaporates water on the leaf surface while roots absorb not enough water. Therefore, the leaves fall to protect the tree.

Written by Morly