Hidden between the skyscrapers of downtown and the Willamette River is one of Portland's oldest and most intriguing neighborhoods—Old Town Chinatown. This historic district is a living testament to the city's formative years, its waves of immigration, and its changing identity. With cobblestone roads, cultural sites, lively nightlife, and an emerging food scene, Old Town Chinatown beckons visitors on an adventure through Portland's past and present.
This guide covers what to see, where to eat, and how to make the most of your visit through this cultural core of Portland.
To grasp Old Town Chinatown Portland, you must date back to the mid-1800s. This neighborhood was one of Portland's earliest developing areas, characterized by saloons, boarding homes, and the early Portland waterfront. As Chinese immigrant arrivals started occurring—initially for railroad projects and eventually various occupations—there arose Chinatown, along with Eastern architecture, shops, and customs.
Though the Chinese American population has since moved to other communities, the historic district is still a significant testament to their legacy. Landmarks such as the Portland Chinatown Museum and Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association serve to keep this legacy alive, with exhibits and educational programs that link the past to the present.
Today, tourists can walk among the remains of Portland's 19th-century past alongside contemporary businesses. Cast-iron structures fill the streets, which are dotted with many turned into galleries, coffee houses, and restaurants.
No Old Town Chinatown trip is complete without a visit to the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Constructed by artisans from Portland's sister city in China, Suzhou, this beautiful garden is a serene, walled oasis in the midst of the city. It boasts genuine Chinese architecture, rich plantings, koi ponds, and a tea house where traditional Chinese tea is served.
It isn't even just a garden – it's a cultural experience. Tours are held each day for visitors, plus one can enjoy daily Tai Chi and calligraphy classes. Regularly scheduled functions include Lunar New Year celebrations as well as sessions in Chinese storytelling to make it an active hot spot for interchanging cultures.
One of the greatest ways to experience Old Town Chinatown Portland is on foot. Guided walking tours provide an in-depth glimpse of the area's rich history, uncovering secret tunnels, ghostly pasts, and tales of perseverance and community.
The popular Shanghai Tunnels tour delves into the subterranean tunnels purported to have been utilized for smuggling and human trafficking during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although some of the legends are disputed, the tour offers a historical perspective of Portland's seedy underbelly.
Other walk tours target the neighborhood's architecture, artwork, and changing social fabric. Whether a dark ghost walk or a historically thick trek is what you have in mind, you'll have learned to appreciate this cultural heritage community even more once you leave the neighborhood.
By day, Old Town Chinatown can be quiet and pensive, but at night, it shows a different personality. Its nightlife is hip and constantly in flux—varying from kitschy dive bars to wild dance clubs.
Music enthusiasts can visit Dante's, a fabled club that is famous for rock concerts, burlesque, and karaoke. For an experience unlike any other, Ground Control is a vintage arcade bar that oozes retro chic with pinball and vintage games.
Even with its late-night reputation, the neighborhood has been making some welcome changes to open it up to everyone. Improved lighting, safety measures, and new restaurants are all making the area a more lively and secure environment, inviting locals and visitors to enjoy the district at night.
Old Town Chinatown can't hold the thick concentration of Asian eateries one might think, but its food scene is not one to overlook. The area has a vibrant array of flavors that showcase Portland's multicultural culinary scene.
Begin with lunch at Chen's Good Taste, a humble eatery that serves Cantonese comfort food such as roast duck noodle soup. For spicy noodles and handmade dumplings, local favorite Nong's Khao Man Gai nearby gives a Thai spin on street food classics.
Craving something sweet? Voodoo Doughnut, now a Portland icon, was born right here. With its quirky decor and inventive flavors (think bacon-topped maple bars), it’s a must-stop for tourists and locals alike.
Food carts are also sprinkled throughout the area, bringing everything from Korean barbecue to Mexican tacos within easy reach. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or settling in for a sit-down meal, there’s something to satisfy every palate.
An oft-overlooked but just as fulfilling feature of Old Town Chinatown Portland is its dedication to public art. From large-scale murals that celebrate Chinese heritage to avant-garde installations within alleyways, the neighborhood thrums with creative energy.
Perhaps the most dramatic piece is the "Lifting the Sky" mural, a bright, colorful image of Chinese dragons and cultural symbols that cover the wall of a building. It is both a work of art and a nod to the community's identity.
For modern art, visit The White Gallery or Upfor, featuring local and national artists in various media. Periodic art walks and gallery events occur, inviting the public to experience the region's developing arts community.
Throughout the year, Old Town Chinatown features a number of cultural festivals and community celebrations that honor its heritage and diversity. The Chinese New Year parade is likely the most well-attended, featuring lion dances, fireworks, and traditional performances that draw thousands.
Other activities include night markets, craft festivals, and storytelling evenings that tap the skills of local performers and artists. These events strengthen a sense of community while providing visitors an opportunity to engage in Portland's multiculturalism.
Even outside planned events, strolling through the neighborhood can be an experience in culture. The decorative Chinatown Gateway, scripted with calligraphy and sided by guardian lions, ushers you into a realm where East and West intersect in innovative ways.
Even with its evolution over time, Old Town Chinatown Portland remains an integral strand in the city's cultural fabric. Its historic district designation preserves the character and architecture that render it unique, and new businesses and community initiatives inject new life into its streets.
For visitors, this means a chance to connect with Portland on a deeper level. The neighborhood’s layers—some polished, some raw—offer a more complete picture of the city’s evolution. Whether you’re enjoying food from around the world, admiring a mural, or learning about local history on a walking tour, the experience is surface-level.
Old Town Chinatown is accessible by public transportation and offers parking garages for patrons. It is best explored on foot, so bring good walking shoes and, if possible, visit during the day and come back at night to enjoy a full sense of its appeal and metamorphosis.
Here are some tips for your trip:
Old Town Chinatown Portland has something special to offer whether you have lived in Portland your whole life or have just visited for the first time: a neighborhood rooted in the past while evolving into the future. It is one of the most lush and adventurous locations in the city with its historic district, nightlife, food, walking tours, and culture.
Whether you are a history lover, a foodie, or just looking to experience a unique part of Portland, Old Town Chinatown is a treasure waiting for you!
This content was created by AI