Abstract: Based on plant phenological data from 17 stations of the Chinese Phenological Observation Network of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences and the meteorological data,the change of autumnal leaf coloring of woody plants in Eastern China for the last 40 years was analyzed.The results showed that in Eastern China,the timing of leaf coloring change of the woody plants showed an average delaying rate of 3.7 day per 10 years,and this delaying trend was remarkable after 1980s,and a rise or drop of 1℃ in mean minimum temperature could lead to a delay or an advance of 3 days in leaf coloring.Climate warming was probably the main reason for the delaying trend in autumn phenophase of woody plants in Eastern China during the study period.The results of this study will have great significance for the study of relation between phenology and global climate change.

Key words: Eastern China, Woody plants, Leaf coloring, Phenological change, Climate change