A new splash of natural color is coming to the downtown to complement the central greenbelt next to Financial Street, which is already planted with acer saccharinums, autumn purple ashes, cherry-apples and other imported trees.

Wang Jun, deputy director of the bureau of landscape and forestry with Xicheng district, told Beijing Mirror Evening News on Monday that a 300-meter avenue of cherry-apple trees will be planted in the central greenbelt, with both sides having 44 trees imported from the USA.

Wang said the trees will look like pink clouds when they are in blossom.

In addition to the plantings next to Financial Street, greenery will be enhanced next to Jinchengfang Street, Guangningbo Street, Wudinghou Street and part of Taiping-qiao Street in Xicheng district - an area covering almost 5,000 sq m.

The improvements to Financial Street should be finished by the May 1 holiday and the whole project will be wrapped up by August.

Wang Wenhe, a professor in the Horticulture and Gardens department at Beijing University of Agriculture, told METRO colorful trees mixed in with the regular green trees in the neighborhood will bring glamour to the city's core.

He said the newly planted species were selected to cope well with Beijing's climate because they should resist the cold of winter and the dry conditions.

"Of course, the project is currently in the experimental phase because the adaptability of these color-leaf trees needs to stand the test of time," he said. "It's necessary to observe their development for three to five years to see their performance in our winters, especially ones with extraordinary cold weather, such as this year."

A woman surnamed Xia, who leads one of the planting teams, which is working in front of the Seasons Place shopping center, said her crew had worked exclusively on the project for a week.

At that location, one side of the street is planted with imported cherry-apple blossoms and the other with crape myrtle blossoms. The planted trees range in age from six months to several years.

"The greenbelt faces right onto the Second Ring Road, it'll look gorgeous when the trees blossom," she said.

The trees haven't bloomed yet due to the cold weather, but people in the area have already welcomed their addition.

A safety guard at Seasons Place, surnamed Zhang, said he was glad to see more trees in his working environment. And a woman surnamed Gui, who often visits her daughter in the neighborhood, said the street is the most beautiful in the city and will soon be even more special with the addition of the colorful trees.

METRO