The Riverside Building is the largest apartment building in modern Shanghai. It has dual-use commercial and residential uses. The owner is a Jewish businessman Sassoon. When it was built, it was designed with an "S" shape based on irregular terrain, which means Sassoon initials. It was unique at that time. When it was completed, it was called "the first apartment in Asia". It was the earliest "waterscape residence" in Shanghai, with modern facilities such as heating, elevators, swimming pools, deep well pumps, and fire pumps. Chinese and foreign enterprises, institutions and organizations, such as Columbia Film Company, MGM Film Company, Rihua Silk Co., Ltd., Beijing-Shanghai-Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Railway Administration, have all established institutions in the Riverside Building. After the 1950 s, the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine was founded in the building, and the Shanghai First People's Hospital once set up a clinic here.

From January to September 1957, historical geographer Tan Qixiang and others compiled the Atlas of Chinese History on the 4th floor of the Riverside Building. The picture shows Tan Qixiang and Zou Yilin.