Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings

What makes this Portland experience interesting is the mix of underground Shanghai Tunnels and real, grim local stories, with a resident ghost named Nina. I love the exclusive access to passageways most people never see, and I like how the tour ends with beer tastings plus a pint from Old Town Pizza & Brewing. Guides like Skippy, Natasha, Doug, and Kaitlin come through with story style that can feel both entertaining and respectful, even when the topics turn heavy.

There’s one big consideration: you are going to deal with narrow stairs, low spaces, and uneven dirt floors as you move through the tunnels and between pipes. If you have mobility limits, a fear of tight spaces, or you hate crouching and climbing, this is probably not the best match.

Key Highlights You Should Know

• Exclusive entry to the Shanghai Tunnels right under Old Town
• Ghost Nina is woven into the storytelling, not just tacked on
• Beer tastings and a full pint are part of the payoff at the end
• Dark Portland history gets practical details, including shanghaiing and crimping
• Small group size, max 15 people, helps the guide keep things moving
• It is physically demanding, with stairs, ducking, and pipe-filled crawlways

Why Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels Feel Like a Different City

This is not just a ghost story tour. It’s a Portland history tour that happens underground, where the setting itself does some of the work for the guide. You start in the city center, then go below street level into passageways that once helped link businesses with the Willamette River. That geography matters, because it explains why the era’s crime and labor stories could take root where people could disappear fast and questions were hard to ask.

I like that the tour stays specific. The guide doesn’t just say Portland was dark, they connect the underground spaces to the ways people were used, moved, and controlled. The resident ghost, Nina, is part of the mix, but the tunnel setting gives it a grounded feeling, like something could be hiding in the walls even if you stay skeptical.

Meeting at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, and Starting With the Right Mindset

You meet at Old Town Pizza & Brewing at 226 NW Davis St, Portland. It’s also described as being near public transportation, which helps if you want to keep your travel plan simple and not rely entirely on rideshare.

The best mindset for this tour is to treat it like a guided walk with a hard pivot point. For the first part, you are focused on history, spacing, and safety underground. For the second part, the beer stop becomes the release valve, the moment where the experience shifts from chilling to social.

Also note the practical timing. The tour runs about 1 hour 30 minutes, and it’s max 15 people. That shorter time window is a good thing, because you’re not trapped underground for hours, but it also means your guide will keep momentum high.

Going Underground: Stairs, Pipes, and the Real Physical Challenge

This tour involves climbing up and down stairs and navigating through tunnels and around pipes. The access notice is very direct, and your body will feel it: narrow stairs and doorways, obstacles you may need to duck under, and uneven dirt floors in places. Comfortable footwear matters. Sneakers and supportive shoes beat slick soles and anything with a heel.

If you’re hoping for a calm stroll, adjust your expectations now. This is closer to a short, guided underground route where you’re constantly repositioning your feet and staying aware of ceiling height and tight turns. Some people loved the walk through the tunnels for how tangible it feels, but others pointed out the terrain is challenging, so plan accordingly.

And one more detail that matters for comfort: you’re not only walking, you’re also moving between spaces that are packed with pipes and low clearance. If you get claustrophobic, this is the part you should think about hardest.

Ghost Nina and the Story Style: Scary for Some, History-Forward for Others

The resident ghost Nina is part of the experience, and the tour leans into Portland’s haunted identity. But the balance shifts depending on the guide and your personal preference. A few people felt it was more tunnel history than ghosts. Others said the ghost stories were strong enough to make it feel spooky and fun.

What I’d take from that, as a practical traveler, is this: don’t book only if you want pure haunting. Book if you want a guided explanation of the tunnels plus a spooky layer that the guide presents as part of the narrative. If you’re the type who loves unexplainable occurrences, you’ll likely enjoy the way Nina is threaded into the telling.

Guide names came up a lot in feedback. Skippy/Skipper gets credit for being both entertaining and knowledgeable in a way that keeps the tour moving. Natasha and Doug show up in praise for engaging storytelling, and Kaitlin is singled out for making the underground story feel vivid. Just remember, story delivery is personal. Some tour styles feel more theatrical, and that can be a hit or miss depending on what you like.

The Dark History You Will Hear: Shanghaiing, Crimping, and Control

This tour’s strongest value is how it connects the underground spaces to real labor and crime themes. You learn about Portland’s dark past and hear stories tied to the Shanghai Tunnels. In the 1800s, shanghaiing and crimping show up as part of how people were pulled into service for the sea, and the guide explains how captives were treated.

That matters because it moves the story beyond spooky mood. Instead of only asking what might be haunting the tunnels, you also get a sense of what people did in the spaces below the city. The end result is a tour that can feel both chilling and informative, especially if you like local history with a bite.

The tour also includes an adult content warning. It notes historic mention of sexual content, drug use, human trafficking, violence, and death. So if you are sensitive to those topics, or you’re planning a group outing with mixed comfort levels, you should treat that warning as part of the planning, not a footnote.

What Happens During the 90 Minutes, Step by Step

The structure is simple: you meet above ground, go underground, then resurface and finish with beer. There’s not a long list of separate stops, which is good because the tour time stays focused on the key moments.

Here’s how the flow usually feels:

1. Meet and start at Old Town Pizza & Brewing. This is where you get oriented, and where your guide sets the tone.
2. Descend beneath Portland’s streets. This is when the “haunted underground” part becomes real, not marketing.
3. Walk through the tunnels with story beats. You hear about the tunnels’ purpose linking businesses to the Willamette River, and you get the ghost Nina narrative layered in.
4. Navigate tight spaces and pipe-filled sections. This is the part where wearing the right shoes and taking it slow really pays off.
5. Return above ground for tastings and a pint. The beer stop becomes the final reward and social reset.

One more expectation-setting point: some people felt the route did not go far in terms of tunnel length, describing it more like a section of the original tunnels under the building rather than an enormous network. That doesn’t make it bad, but it helps you calibrate what you’re paying for. This is an intimate tunnel walk, not a sprawling spelunking expedition.

Beer Tastings and a Pint: Why the Brewery Finish Works

You get three beer tastings plus one pint of Old Town’s award-winning beer included. That is a clear value hook. You’re not only paying for the underground tour, you’re also getting a built-in tasting experience that fits the theme of the venue.

It’s also a smart design for pacing. After you’ve spent time in tight, dim spaces hearing heavy stories, a beer stop helps you come up for air. Some people called the beer a bonus or icing on the cake, and the pint finish is the payoff that makes the whole thing feel complete.

One practical note: a couple of reviews felt the tastings were small. The important takeaway is simply that the format is tasting portions plus a full pint at the end. If you want a lot of beer volume before you resurface, this format might not satisfy that craving, but it’s still designed so you end with a full pour.

Price and Value: Is $48 Fair for What You Get?

At $48 per person for about 1 hour 30 minutes, the value depends on what you care about most.

If you want two things, the tour is strong:

• A guided walk to an exclusive underground setting you cannot casually access on your own
• Beer included, with tastings and a pint from Old Town

The price also makes sense given the small group size, max 15. When the group is that size, the guide can manage pace in narrow spaces. That safety and control factor is not visible on a website, but you feel it in the experience.

Where the value question gets personal is the “ghost vs history” balance. If you are specifically hunting for lots of paranormal moments, you may feel the history leans heavier. If you enjoy dark Portland stories with a spooky layer, the package likely feels like a good deal.

Who Should Book This Tour, and Who Should Skip It

This works best if you:

• Like Portland history that comes with atmosphere and uncomfortable details
• Enjoy ghost stories that are woven into a guided narrative, not just jump scares
• Want a date night or group activity that includes something social at the end
• Can handle stairs, ducking under obstacles, and uneven floors

Skip it if:

• Mobility issues are a concern. The accessibility notice is clear about narrow stairs, narrow doorways, low clearances, and uneven dirt floors, and some reviews directly said it is not for anyone with mobility issues.
• You dislike tight spaces or you do not want to maneuver around pipes in low areas.
• Adult topics are not a good fit for your group. The tour explicitly warns about sexual content, drug use, human trafficking, violence, and death.

It’s also typically an adult-focused tour. The information says no babies, infants, or kids under 12, and it emphasizes 21+ for most tours, with notes that 2pm and 3pm have different rules. If you are bringing teens, double-check the age rules for the exact departure time.

Practical Tips So You Enjoy the Underground Part

• Wear closed-toe sneakers or similar footwear with good grip. This is not a sandal tour.
• Plan for ducking and low clearance. Watch your step and keep your head up only when you can.
• Go steady on stairs. Even fit people can get clumsy when the path is uneven.
• Bring a heads-up about the topics. The adult content warning is real, so plan for it emotionally.
• Eat before you go if you care about a full meal. Old Town Pizza is where you start, and people mention grabbing pizza there. Also, one review noted that on a late tour the pizza and bar closed at 9:30 pm, so timing can matter if you plan to linger.

Should You Book the Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnels Tour?

If you want a Portland experience that goes beyond a typical walking tour, this is a solid pick. The main draw is the rare access to the Shanghai Tunnels under city streets, paired with a guided story that mixes Portland’s dark past and Nina the ghost. The included beer tastings and pint make it feel like you are getting more than a lecture, you’re getting a complete outing.

I’d pass if you need step-free access or you cannot handle tight, uneven underground spaces. And if your top priority is lots of overt paranormal activity, this may feel more history-forward than you expect. But if you like the idea of learning why the tunnels matter, then topping it off with beer, this is the kind of tour that makes Portland feel oddly alive, even underground.

FAQ

Where is the tour meeting point?

You meet at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, 226 NW Davis St, Portland, OR 97209. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the Portland Underground Shanghai Tunnels tour?

The tour is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

What is included with the ticket?

The experience includes the Portland Underground Shanghai Tunnels tour, exclusive access to the tunnels, beer tastings, and 1 pint of Old Town’s award-winning beer.

Does the tour include ghost stories?

Yes. You hear stories about the resident ghost Nina as part of the tour.

What kind of physical demands should I expect?

The tour involves climbing up and down stairs and navigating through tunnels and around pipes. The accessibility notice mentions narrow stairs and doorways, low areas to duck under, and uneven dirt floors.

Is alcohol included, and what does that look like?

Yes. You get beer tastings and then a full pint of Old Town’s award-winning beer.

Are there age restrictions?

The information states there are no babies, infants, or kids under 12 years old. It also notes that most tours are 21+ (with different rules for some afternoon tour times), so you should check the specific time you book.

How many people are in a group?

The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.

Is there any adult content warning?

Yes. The experience warns about historic mention of sexual content, drug use, human trafficking, violence, and death.

What is the cancellation and weather policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund. There is no refund for late guests or same-day cancellations.