Shanghai Tunnels (Old Town Chinatown)

Lan Su Chinese Garden sits in Portland's Old Town Chinatown neighborhood, which overlies a network of 19th-century cellars, basements, and passageways commonly called the 'Shanghai Tunnels.' Local legend holds that some of these underground spaces were used for forcible abduction of sailors ('shanghaiing') and illicit movement of people and goods. The tunnels and the shanghaiing stories have become a prominent part of Portland folklore and are frequent subjects of guided tours and popular histories. The historical accuracy and extent of such activities are debated among scholars and local historians.