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Built in 1976, this brown brick tower complex in Chinatown was the first major public-funded housing project built for Chinese use. The 44-story arc contains 762 apartments, the Yung Wing Public School, P.S. 124 (K-8), shops, community space and a day-care center. One of the most frequently visited landmarks in Chinatown is the 15-foot bronze statue of Confucius, the Chinese philosopher, in front of the complex. Sculpted by Liu Shih, the statue was presented by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association as a token of appreciation, and to commemorate the U.S. bicentennial. At its base, a Confucian proverb is inscribed aside an American Flag, praising a just government with remarkable leaders of wisdom and ability. — Lindsay Damast

Patrons of all nationalities and ethnicities can be found meditating in front of the statue, oblivious to the hectic city bustle surrounding them.