A woman wears a suite inspired by gingko tree leaves. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

A giant desk lamp made of fallen oriental plane tree leaves has lit up Nanshan Road in Hangzhou, becoming the city's latest winter photo hotspot.

Titled Endless Light, the glowing installation casts a warm amber hue through layers of leaves, drawing crowds to stop, photograph and linger. The artwork marks the opening highlight of the 19th Autumn Leaf Art Festival hosted by the China Academy of Art, signaling the annual return of Nanshan Road's signature winter romance.

A giant desk lamp made of fallen oriental plane tree leaves. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

Since 2022, the festival has delivered a series of viral public artworks — from the four-meter-tall Leaf Rabbit to a Giant Elf and last year's popular Elephant Slide — turning fallen leaves into some of Hangzhou's most recognizable seasonal art icons.

This year's festival, themed Life Without Borders, features 15 selected works from more than 400 submissions nationwide. After debuting on campus, the installations will gradually appear across Hangzhou, including streets, schools, hospitals, cultural zones, and the airport, bringing art into everyday urban spaces.

The festival runs through Jan 20, 2026, inviting residents and visitors alike to discover moments of warmth and creativity across the city this winter.

A resident takes photos in front of a scroll made of fallen leaves. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]