Part of the Flower Harbor, considered by the ranking-happy Chinese to be one of West Lake's top ten places of interest, Red Carp Pond (Hóngyú Chí, 红鱼池) is home to thousands of vividly colored carp. Flower Harbor joined the traditional list of top ten scenes of West Lake when during his tour of Hangzhou, the Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi wrote "Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor" (Huā Gǎng Guàn Yú, 花港觀魚).

Located west of South Su Causeway, the pond was originally part of a private garden built during the Southern Song Dynasty, when the imperial capital was moved from Kaifeng to Hangzhou, but eventually became a point of public interest. The subject of many classical Chinese poems and prose, Red Carp Pond is also known for its flowing peonies and lush plum trees.

Quintessential Chinese garden aesthetics in the perfect setting, yes, but high season sees the banks of the pond just as crowded with tourists as the waters are with carp.

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