慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)60歲(sui)生日(ri)(ri),是(shi)(shi)1894年(nian)(nian)陰歷(li)甲午年(nian)(nian)十月(yue)(yue)(yue)初(chu)十。為了(le)舉辦(ban)隆(long)(long)重(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)慶(qing)(qing)(qing)典(dian)(dian)(dian),一年(nian)(nian)前就已著手籌備(bei)。慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi)晚(wan)(wan)年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)行事(shi)(shi)作派,處處刻意模(mo)仿乾(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)。乾(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)晚(wan)(wan)年(nian)(nian)營(ying)建(jian)(jian)了(le)寧(ning)壽(shou)宮,以備(bei)將皇(huang)(huang)位傳給(gei)兒子(zi)嘉慶(qing)(qing)(qing)之后(hou)(hou),做太上(shang)皇(huang)(huang)時(shi)養老居住。慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi)也于1889年(nian)(nian)55歲(sui)時(shi),宣布撤(che)簾歸政給(gei)已經(jing)大(da)(da)婚親政的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)光(guang)緒皇(huang)(huang)帝之后(hou)(hou),搬(ban)入寧(ning)壽(shou)宮居住。乾(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)過生日(ri)(ri)時(shi),要去圓(yuan)明園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)慶(qing)(qing)(qing)賀(he),并(bing)在(zai)(zai)(zai)沿(yan)途大(da)(da)擺(bai)排場,慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi)也計(ji)劃去頤(yi)(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)風光(guang)一回。慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)具體計(ji)劃是(shi)(shi),到了(le)60歲(sui)生日(ri)(ri)那天,早上(shang)先(xian)在(zai)(zai)(zai)皇(huang)(huang)宮接受(shou)王(wang)公大(da)(da)臣的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)朝賀(he),然后(hou)(hou)大(da)(da)排鑾駕,浩浩蕩(dang)蕩(dang),出皇(huang)(huang)宮西(xi)(xi)華門(men),走北長(chang)街,折向西(xi)(xi)安門(men)大(da)(da)街,經(jing)西(xi)(xi)四路(lu)口(kou),往北沿(yan)西(xi)(xi)四北大(da)(da)街,經(jing)新(xin)街口(kou),出西(xi)(xi)直門(men),直奔(ben)頤(yi)(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。然后(hou)(hou)在(zai)(zai)(zai)頤(yi)(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)內聽(ting)大(da)(da)戲(xi)(xi),開大(da)(da)宴。為此(ci),慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi)命軍機大(da)(da)臣、禮親王(wang)世鐸擔任慶(qing)(qing)(qing)典(dian)(dian)(dian)總辦(ban),按(an)照(zhao)當年(nian)(nian)乾(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)氣(qi)(qi)派,除將皇(huang)(huang)宮、頤(yi)(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)妥(tuo)為籌辦(ban)外,還要在(zai)(zai)(zai)西(xi)(xi)華門(men)至頤(yi)(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)幾(ji)十里大(da)(da)道(dao)旁(pang),沿(yan)途點(dian)綴景(jing)觀(guan),搭建(jian)(jian)經(jing)壇、戲(xi)(xi)臺、彩殿、牌樓(lou),組織僧(seng)道(dao)念經(jing),戲(xi)(xi)班演(yan)戲(xi)(xi),夾(jia)道(dao)歡迎,供她途中(zhong)觀(guan)覽,這就是(shi)(shi)慶(qing)(qing)(qing)壽(shou)“點(dian)景(jing)”工程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。西(xi)(xi)四路(lu)口(kou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)兩座轉角樓(lou),就是(shi)(shi)在(zai)(zai)(zai)這次“點(dian)景(jing)”工程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)營(ying)建(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。建(jian)(jian)此(ci)樓(lou)作用(yong),一是(shi)(shi)可以遮掩后(hou)(hou)面不(bu)(bu)夠美觀(guan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)民居,二是(shi)(shi)增(zeng)添(tian)喜慶(qing)(qing)(qing)氣(qi)(qi)氛,三是(shi)(shi)可以在(zai)(zai)(zai)樓(lou)上(shang)制高點(dian)設(she)置警(jing)戒。不(bu)(bu)料,正(zheng)當慶(qing)(qing)(qing)典(dian)(dian)(dian)籌備(bei)緊鑼密鼓進行之中(zhong),1894年(nian)(nian)7月(yue)(yue)(yue),日(ri)(ri)本艦隊在(zai)(zai)(zai)黃海(hai)挑起甲午戰爭。8月(yue)(yue)(yue)1日(ri)(ri),中(zhong)日(ri)(ri)互下宣戰書。眾(zhong)所周知,慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)頤(yi)(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),是(shi)(shi)挪用(yong)了(le)海(hai)軍經(jing)費建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de),所以后(hou)(hou)來有人作詩諷刺說,北洋水師的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)鐵艦全軍覆(fu)沒,倒是(shi)(shi)頤(yi)(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)石頭船永不(bu)(bu)會沉。戰爭攪(jiao)亂了(le)慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)慶(qing)(qing)(qing)壽(shou)計(ji)劃。沒有心情,也沒有臉面再(zai)大(da)(da)事(shi)(shi)鋪張的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi),不(bu)(bu)得不(bu)(bu)在(zai)(zai)(zai)9月(yue)(yue)(yue)25日(ri)(ri)下旨(zhi),取(qu)消在(zai)(zai)(zai)頤(yi)(yi)(yi)和(he)園(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)慶(qing)(qing)(qing)典(dian)(dian)(dian)及沿(yan)途的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)“點(dian)景(jing)”工程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。史載,1894年(nian)(nian)11月(yue)(yue)(yue)7日(ri)(ri)(即陰歷(li)十月(yue)(yue)(yue)初(chu)十),慈(ci)(ci)禧(xi)(xi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)60歲(sui)生日(ri)(ri),只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)在(zai)(zai)(zai)寧(ning)壽(shou)宮中(zhong)黯然度過的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。