Along roads across Nantong, goldenrain trees are bursting into flower, their countless small yellow blooms dotting branches and sketching a moving autumn scene against nearby buildings and passing traffic.

Clusters of golden flower spikes open above, and tiny petals drift down to carpet the asphalt in a soft golden rug. Bright red seed capsules hang like little lanterns against dark green leaves, so that on a single tree you can see green leaves, yellow flowers, red fruit, and brown fallen seeds. For that reason, locals call it the “four-color tree.”

A deciduous street tree prized for its graceful shape and strong adaptability, the goldenrain is common in Nantong. Its peak viewing season runs from September to October. It also helps purify the air and reduce noise, quietly guarding the city’s urban ecology.