慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)的(de)(de)60歲生(sheng)日,是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)1894年(nian)陰歷(li)甲(jia)午年(nian)十(shi)月(yue)初(chu)十(shi)。為(wei)了(le)舉辦(ban)隆重(zhong)的(de)(de)慶(qing)典(dian)(dian),一(yi)年(nian)前(qian)就已(yi)(yi)著(zhu)手籌備(bei)。慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)晚年(nian)的(de)(de)行事作(zuo)(zuo)派(pai),處(chu)處(chu)刻意(yi)模仿(fang)乾(qian)隆。乾(qian)隆晚年(nian)營建(jian)了(le)寧(ning)壽宮,以備(bei)將皇位傳給(gei)兒(er)子嘉(jia)慶(qing)之(zhi)后,做太上(shang)皇時養老居(ju)住(zhu)。慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)也于1889年(nian)55歲時,宣(xuan)布(bu)撤簾(lian)歸(gui)政給(gei)已(yi)(yi)經(jing)大(da)(da)婚親政的(de)(de)光緒皇帝(di)之(zhi)后,搬入寧(ning)壽宮居(ju)住(zhu)。乾(qian)隆過生(sheng)日時,要(yao)去圓(yuan)明園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)慶(qing)賀(he),并(bing)在(zai)(zai)(zai)沿(yan)(yan)途大(da)(da)擺排場,慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)也計劃去頤(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)風(feng)光一(yi)回。慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)的(de)(de)具體(ti)計劃是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi),到了(le)60歲生(sheng)日那天,早上(shang)先在(zai)(zai)(zai)皇宮接受王(wang)公大(da)(da)臣的(de)(de)朝賀(he),然后大(da)(da)排鑾駕,浩(hao)浩(hao)蕩蕩,出(chu)皇宮西華門,走北(bei)(bei)長街,折向西安門大(da)(da)街,經(jing)西四路口,往北(bei)(bei)沿(yan)(yan)西四北(bei)(bei)大(da)(da)街,經(jing)新街口,出(chu)西直門,直奔頤(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。然后在(zai)(zai)(zai)頤(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)內聽大(da)(da)戲,開大(da)(da)宴。為(wei)此,慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)命(ming)軍(jun)(jun)機大(da)(da)臣、禮親王(wang)世(shi)鐸擔任(ren)慶(qing)典(dian)(dian)總辦(ban),按照當年(nian)乾(qian)隆的(de)(de)氣派(pai),除將皇宮、頤(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)妥(tuo)為(wei)籌辦(ban)外,還要(yao)在(zai)(zai)(zai)西華門至(zhi)頤(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)幾(ji)十(shi)里(li)大(da)(da)道(dao)旁,沿(yan)(yan)途點(dian)(dian)綴景(jing)觀(guan),搭建(jian)經(jing)壇、戲臺、彩(cai)殿、牌樓,組織(zhi)僧道(dao)念經(jing),戲班(ban)演戲,夾(jia)道(dao)歡迎,供她途中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)觀(guan)覽,這就是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)慶(qing)壽“點(dian)(dian)景(jing)”工(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)。西四路口的(de)(de)兩(liang)座轉角樓,就是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)在(zai)(zai)(zai)這次“點(dian)(dian)景(jing)”工(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)營建(jian)的(de)(de)。建(jian)此樓作(zuo)(zuo)用,一(yi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)可以遮掩后面(mian)(mian)不(bu)夠(gou)美觀(guan)的(de)(de)民居(ju),二是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)增添喜慶(qing)氣氛,三(san)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)可以在(zai)(zai)(zai)樓上(shang)制(zhi)高點(dian)(dian)設置警戒。不(bu)料,正(zheng)當慶(qing)典(dian)(dian)籌備(bei)緊鑼密鼓進(jin)行之(zhi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),1894年(nian)7月(yue),日本艦隊在(zai)(zai)(zai)黃(huang)海挑起甲(jia)午戰(zhan)爭。8月(yue)1日,中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)日互下宣(xuan)戰(zhan)書(shu)。眾所(suo)周(zhou)知(zhi),慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)的(de)(de)頤(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)挪用了(le)海軍(jun)(jun)經(jing)費(fei)建(jian)成的(de)(de),所(suo)以后來(lai)有人作(zuo)(zuo)詩(shi)諷刺說,北(bei)(bei)洋水師的(de)(de)鐵(tie)艦全軍(jun)(jun)覆沒,倒(dao)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)頤(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)石頭船永不(bu)會沉。戰(zhan)爭攪(jiao)亂了(le)慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)的(de)(de)慶(qing)壽計劃。沒有心情,也沒有臉面(mian)(mian)再大(da)(da)事鋪張的(de)(de)慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi),不(bu)得不(bu)在(zai)(zai)(zai)9月(yue)25日下旨(zhi),取消在(zai)(zai)(zai)頤(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)慶(qing)典(dian)(dian)及沿(yan)(yan)途的(de)(de)“點(dian)(dian)景(jing)”工(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)。史載,1894年(nian)11月(yue)7日(即(ji)陰歷(li)十(shi)月(yue)初(chu)十(shi)),慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)的(de)(de)60歲生(sheng)日,只是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)在(zai)(zai)(zai)寧(ning)壽宮中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)黯(an)然度過的(de)(de)。