Shanghai tunnels are abandoned underground passages below old Chinatown in Portland Oregon. Built-in the 1850s, the tunnels were built to connect hotels and business premises to the waterfront of Willamette River. The tunnels are currently in ruins after being closed permanently.

Crimes at Shanghai tunnels.

Shanghai tunnels got their name from the Chinese word which refers to the act of practicing abduction. Due to its direct access to the Willamette River, abductors and human traffickers used the tunnel to smuggle those that they’ve kidnapped to various parts of the world. An underground passageway that was built to help the people of Portland came to haunt them when drug lords, shrewd businessmen, and traffickers took over the tunnels. At one point, the tunnels were used to smuggle alcohol which was banned in the state of Maine at the time. Underground casinos, drug dens, and brothels were secretly established in the tunnels.

Closure of the tunnels

Over the years, the tunnels were found to be unstable and they risked collapsing. On top of that, cases of illegal activities in the tunnels were too much for the state of Oregon to turn a blind eye to. To protect Portland’s name from being tainted, the state of Oregon permanently closed Shanghai tunnels

Are Shanghai tunnels haunted?

Tourists at the tunnels say they have witnessed abnormal activities. The spirit of the young lady who roams the tunnels is said to be of Nina, a local prostitute who was abducted and raped before being murdered. But that is not the only spirit at the tunnels, some reported hearing women's voices screaming and even being tugged or tripped by people they could not see.

What is the current situation of Shanghai tunnels?

Shanghai tunnels still stand in despair. Most of its walls have cracks due to exposure to dampness over the years. Though it is closed, educational tours are permitted by the government. Portland tunnels are the only certified organization to offer educational tours in the tunnels.