The annual Autumn Leaf Art Festival opens on Hangzhou's Nanshan Road on Dec 8. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Hangzhou's Nanshan Road came alive on Dec 8 as locals and tourists gathered for the annual Autumn Leaf Art Festival, hosted by the China Academy of Art.

This year's festival will run until Jan 10, 2025. Featuring over a dozen leaf-inspired sculptures, it transforms locations across Hangzhou into vibrant art spaces. Beyond Nanshan Road, installations can be found at venues such as the art courtyard of the academy's Xiangshan Campus, Qingbo subdistrict in Shangcheng district, Deshou Palace, Zhejiang University (Zijingang Campus), Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, and other notable sites such as Qianjiang Century City and ArtInno Town.

The festival has become an annual highlight, bringing a touch of romance to the cityscape and celebrating the connection between art and nature.

Children play around a leaf-inspired sculpture. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Children play on a slide inspired by leaves. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]