A glass walkway situated 88 meters above the quarry's bottom provides a glimpse of the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland quarry hotel. [Photo/WeChat ID: sheshanlvyou]
The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is a five-star hotel in the Shanghai Sheshan National Tourist Resort, which is located in an 88-meter-deep quarry.
The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, or Tianma Pit Hotel, was designed by British architect Martin Jochman and built into the side wall of an abandoned quarry, with the majority of the structure underground. It's the world's first underground hotel built on the site of an abandoned quarry.
Completed in 2018, the hotel was listed as one of the architectural wonders of the world in National Geographic Channel's "Mega Structures" series due to its pioneering design. It was also once called a "new national landscape" in a show produced by CCTV.
The hotel building has an overall area of 61,087 square meters, and has 17 floors, with two above ground and 15 below ground level (including two floors below the water's surface). It boasts over 300 rooms as well as dining and entertainment facilities.
All 336 rooms and suites include spacious and lavish living areas with spectacular views of the hotel's iconic waterfalls and surrounding cliffs, and are designed with modern elegance that enhances the unique elements of the original quarry landscape.
At the bottom of the quarry, there is a lake, and unlike other hotels, the most luxurious suite and an aquatic-themed restaurant are on the two lowest floors - underwater.
The underwater suites have an outdoor terrace and bedroom on the water's surface, while the living spaces are underwater, encased within a turquoise aquarium with schools of fish swimming nearby.
To ensure a pleasant stay, all hotel rooms on the bottom floor receive round-the-clock room service.
A viewing platform on the opposite side of a 60-meter waterfall allows guests to have a bird's eye view of the magnificent structure.
The crags and rocky outcrops may also be seen from the rooms, which all have a viewing terrace. When night falls, the hotel puts on a large-scale light and water show that features virtual reality for its guests.
In addition, the hotel is adjacent to other popular scenic spots in the Shanghai Sheshan National Tourist Resort, such as Shanghai Shimao Dream City, Sheshan National Forest Park, Chenshan Botanical Garden, and Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park, making it an ideal place for overnight guests.
Address: No 5888 Chenhua Road, Songjiang district, Shanghai
The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is the world's first underground hotel built on the site of an abandoned quarry. [Photo/IC]
