Announcing the f unction of the Hall of Jade Ripples:
The Hall of Jade Ripples, also called Yulantang in Chinese, used to be the place where Qing Emperor Qianlong spend his leisure hours with his ministers and friends. Later it was Emperor Guanxu's private living quarters and also the place where he was under house arrest after 1898.

• Discover the relation between Cixi and Emperor Guangxu
  Emperor Guangxu was Empress Dowager Cixi's nephew. After Emperor Tongzhi died, Empress Dowager Cixi made her nephew, who was at that time four years old a successor in order to continue her wielding of power behind the screen. When Emperor Guangxu was 19 years old, Empress Dowager Cixi relinquished power to him but continued to exert considerable influence. In 1898, the Reform Movement took place with the aim of sustaining the core principles of the Qing Dynasty while reforming outdated laws. The movement lasted for 103 days until it was suppressed by Empress Dowager Cixi.

Discover historical events took place here:
It was here that Emperor Guangxu called in Yuan Shaikai, an army commander, on September 16, 1898, and instructed him to help the reformists and kill Ronglu, a close follower of Empress Dowager Cixi. But Yuan Shikai betrayed him and reported to Empress Dowager the news. Five days later, Cixi staged a coup and put Emperor Guangxu under house arrest here in the Hall of Jade Ripples. Whenever she came to the Summer Palace, she took Guangxu with her.

Emperor Guangxu was placed under house arrest, which lasted for 10 years. All the back doors were sealed and a brick wall was put up behind the wooden partition on each side of the two annexes of the courtyard. Emperor Guangxu was closely watched by eunuchs. The wall remains intact for tourists to see. The emperor's six earnest reformists were beheaded.

Beijing Tour Routes Covers Summer Palace:

Photo of Summer Palace