The Willamette River forms its eastern boundary, separating it from the Lloyd District and the Kerns and Buckman neighborhoods.

Despite the name, most Chinese-Americans and Chinese immigrants had already moved out of the area by the time the city reworked it as an official Chinatown in the 1980s; the increase in property values after the renovations drove out many of the remaining Chinese immigrants, with a section of Northeast 82nd Avenue in East Portland becoming the new unofficial Chinatown.

The Oregonian reported that homelessness, open drug use, crime, and the perception of danger and dirtiness that accompanies these problems were deterring factors to development.

Restaurants have included Baes Fried Chicken, Barista, Bowery Bagels, Dan and Louis Oyster Bar, Deadstock Coffee, Kells Irish Pub, Kinboshi Ramen, Lechon, Old Town Pizza, Republic Cafe and Ming Lounge, Sushi Ichiban, and Voodoo Doughnut.

Defunct restaurants include Alexis Restaurant, Backspace, Bijou Cafe, Davis Street Tavern, Fong Chong, Gilt Club, Hobo's, House of Louie, Hung Far Low, Mi Mero Mole, Ping, Via Tribunali, and X-Ray Cafe.

Dirty Duck, Embers Avenue, No Vacancy Lounge, The Queen's Head, and Satyricon are among defunct bars.

Attractions include the Saturday Market; the Shanghai tunnels; and Ankeny Square, site of Portland's oldest public art work, the Olin L. Warner-designed Skidmore Fountain (dedicated 1888).

The entrance is marked by the Chinatown Gateway (built in 1986),[20] complete with a pair of lions, at the corner of Northwest 4th Avenue and West Burnside Street.

The $12.8 million park covers an entire city block and was built by 65 artisans from Suzhou, China of imported materials (though all plants were grown locally).

More recently, NW 3rd and 4th Avenues received streetscape improvements, including plaques describing historical features.