What do you do with a giant hole in the ground?
In Shanghai, they’ve turned an abandoned rock quarry into the world’s first underground hotel complete with a cascading glass waterfall.
The massive 18-storey Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland opens in the Sheshan Mountain Range near Shanghai on 1 Dec. With two above ground levels and 16 subterranean levels – including 2 underwater floors of suites – the hotel is a literal Poseidon’s castle.
Excited to book a trip? Here’s what you can expect from this architectural marvel.
We all love a good view.
You might love taking selfies in tall skyscrapers, but this hotel proves that there’s nothing better than witnessing marine life underground. You can literally “sleep with the fishes” at their underwater suites.
And you don’t need to book an underwater suite to see the view. Just visit Mr. Fisher, their specialty seafood venue, which offers delicious concoctions and massive aquariums.
If you’re not a fan of fishes, you can check out the viewing deck to watch water cascading down a glorious man-made waterfall on a scenic lake.
You can also go rock climbing, kayaking & checking out the glass-floor skywalk to admire some exotic flora and fauna.
There’s also a helicopter pad in the viewing deck where you may catch a glimpse of some Crazy Rich Asians on their private rendezvous.
The magic doesn’t disappear after the sun sets. You can check out spectacular light shows after dark — flashy enough to resemble a UFO landing.
If you thought the outdoor views were jaw-dropping, wait till you get indoors.
Cascading coloured indoor fountains with special effects make for a glorious centrepiece at the heart of the hotel lobby.
Of course, no luxury hotel is complete without a few quality art pieces, and you’ll see a lot at this hotel. Take a look at this wave-like sculpture atop a fountain in the main entrance.
Inside the building, you’ll see some stacked black and white marble slabs and hexagonal rock-shaped formations.
Even their wall art is literally glowing.
Ultimately, a luxury hotel is a place for you to relax and take a break from the real world and their bedrooms are perfect for this.
The Intercontinental boasts 336 rooms and bespoke suites which echo the quarry’s natural landscape.
Suites come fully equipped with a massive master bedroom, comfy couches, decorative fireplaces and a smart TV. For the full Little Mermaid experience, select suites house aquarium viewing panels, where guests catch gorgeous shoals of fish hurrying past.
If you have kids, then you can book this family suite that comes with cute pillows, cloud art and a compelling view of the waterfalls.
Want to relax after a long bath? You’ll be happy to know that even the bathrooms are to die for.
You can also visit the Quarry bar for some creative concoctions — the perfect place to lounge around and drink to your heart’s content.
Now that the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland is definitely on your radar, how do you get there? You can book a flight from Singapore to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport via Singapore Airlines and China Eastern. From there, take a 40-minute taxi ride.
We don’t mean to burst your bubble but all good things come with a price. At S$673 a night, you might need to save up to cross this off your bucket list. But hey, sleeping with the deep sea fishies, that’s a once in a lifetime experience.
You can also check out their website to see their suites and book your stay.
See you there!
Location: Shimao Wonderland, 5188 Chen Hua Rd at Ding Yuan Rd, Songjiang District, Shanghai
Website: Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland
Featured image from Instagram.
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