Huge 'Deep Pit Hotel' Extends 16 Floors Underground

InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland opened Thursday, the 200th hotel worldwide in the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand's growing portfolio, adding a new attraction to the bustling metropolis.

Dubbed the "deep pit hotel", the property developed by the Hong Kong-listed Shimao Group and managed by Inter-Continental Hotels Group stretches 88 meters underground. It was nominated one of the architectural wonders of the world by the National Geographic Channel's MegaStructures series due to its pioneering design.

"We are delighted to be joining forces with Shimao Group again to open Inter-Continental Shanghai Wonderland - an architectural masterpiece which is a wonder and renowned beauty of the global hospitality industry," said Wang Lin, chief marketing officer of Greater China at IHG.

Located beside Tianma Pit at Sheshan Mountain range in Southwestern Shanghai, the new hotel was built into the side wall of a formerly abandoned quarry, mostly subterranean.

Two of its floors are above ground level and 16 below, including two floors that are even underwater.

For the underwater suites, a landing deck at water level houses the outdoor terrace and bedroom, while the living rooms are underwater, encased within a turquoise aquarium where guests are surrounded by schools of fish swimming by.

Individually designed to best reflect both modern elegance and the unique features of the original quarry landscape, all 336 rooms and suites provide spacious, luxury living spaces with spectacular views of the hotel's signature waterfalls and the surrounding cliffs.

Furthermore, all hotel rooms on the bottom floor are provided with around-the-clock butler service to ensure a hassle-free stay experience.

"IHG has maintained staggering growth since entering the Chinese market in 1984," Wang said.

"The opening of InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland marks a significant milestone in our development strategy and further enhances our luxury portfolio in China," she said.

The new hotel offers the quality services and facilities that have become signatures of the InterContinental brand.

It combines the brand's signature level of luxury with revolutionary design at a unique location, creating an unprecedented experience that will forever change the global hospitality landscape, according to the hotel.

(China Daily 11/17/2018 page7)