Probably Shanghai's most famous historic apartment block, designed by Shanghai's architectural granddaddy, Laszlo Hudec. Often compared to New York's Flatiron Building, it was completed in 1924 for Western employees of companies based in the old Xuhui district, and became a popular residence for Shanghai celebrities in the 1940s, especially actors and actresses. Originally named the Normandie Apartments, it was renamed the Wukang Mansion in 1953, though nearby residents nicknamed it "The Diving Board" for its history of suicides. In recent years, its distinctive wedge shape and prime spot at the intersection of Wukang Lu and Huaihai Zhong Lu have turned it into one of the city’s most photographed buildings, driven largely by social media, walking tours, and a renewed interest in Shanghai’s Republican-era architecture. Today, it's a government-protected historical monument, home to several retired government and military officials. Though the doors are open, the building's management is not a fan of sightseers traipsing up and down the corridors. Expect to be challenged by a bao’an before you reach the lobby elevator.