The Hall of Jade Ripple (Yulantang) is a courtyard consisting of a main hall and two subsidiary halls. It was Emperor Guangxu's dwelling on his visits to the garden. The original halls had back doors which communicated with other halls or the lakeside.

Emperor Guangxu, a nephew of notorious Empress Dowager Cixi, ascended the throne at the age of four as a figure-head - It was Cixi who actually exercised the imperial power. In 1898, Guangxu started a political reform to overturn the outdated laws. This resulted in a fierce conflict with Cixi, the head of conservatives. The ill-fated reform lasted only 103 days and was aborted due to Cixi's suppression. After the failure of the 1898 Reform Movement, the hall was the place where Emperor Guangxu was imprisoned for ten years. Every year, the Emperor was brought here and confined to this small courtyard until his death while Cixi enjoyed her retreat in the garden. During that time, additional walls were built in the halls to prevent Guangxu from escaping and contacting other people. Even today, walls, the witness of the court coup, can still be seen in some rooms.

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