The history of the Lyceum Building originated from the Lyceum Theater. Back in 1843, Shanghai opened up and welcomed foreign firms from all across the globe -- the city streets were full of cultural diversity all of a sudden. A group of British expatriates organized two theater clubs and launched several drama activities in Shanghai. In 1866, these two amateur theater clubs merged into China's first Western-style theater, the Lyceum Theater, which was established between Yuanmingyuan Road and Huqiu Road. Unfortunately, in 1871, the fifth year after its completion, the first-generation Lyceum Theater was engulfed by fire. Nevertheless, these drama-obsessed British did not give up. A year later, the drama club raised funds to rebuild the second-generation Lyceum Theater on the original site. After nearly two years of construction, it was completed in 1874, and the new theater was still the"Lyceum Theatre".

Shanghai's theater industry has been prosperous for many years, but after 1920, with the rise of the emerging film industry, theaters became increasingly depressed, and the Lyceum Theater was left idle. Not long after, the second-generation Lyceum Theater was demolished and left the Bund. In 1930, the third-generation Lyceum Theater (which still stands today) was born at the corner of Changle Road and Maoming South Road. Just before the second Lyceum Theater was about to move away from the Bund, the famous architectural firm Atkinson & Dallas established the current Lyceum Building next to the theater. The name of the building comes from the Lyceum Theater which has experienced three generations of changes. After the building was completed in 1927, the famous Kodak Company, the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nationalist Government, and several institutions worked here.

Standing on the wide gray and cold stone street, you are now facing this building made of yellow-brown bricks and stones. Although it is not the most dazzling building on Yuanmingyuan Road, the peaceful yellow color brings a touch of warmth.

Calm and gentle.

On the lintel which is simple yet gorgeous, it says "Lyceum Building". The beautiful dream of drama art is forever engraved on the stone wall at the gate.