China is now home to one of the most unusual five-star hotels in the world following this week’s grand opening of the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland. Located in the Sheshan Mountain Range in Southwestern Shanghai, the 336-room and -suite property has been built into the walls of an abandoned quarry.
With its entry – which is effectively its roof – at ground level, the luxury hotel descends 88 metres underground, making it primarily subterranean. There are two floors above ground and 16 below, including two that are underwater in the former quarry.
Designed to reflect both modern elegance and the unique features of the quarry’s landscape, all rooms and suites provide ample, luxury living space with spectacular views of waterfalls and the surrounding cliffs. Guest room types include “turquoise water” bedrooms, “red industrial” twin rooms and underwater suites featuring an in-room aquarium.
The underwater loft offers two awe-inspiring levels: the landing deck, at water level, houses the outdoor terrace and living room; while the underwater bedrooms are encased within a turquoise aquarium, where guests will be surrounded by the schools of fish that swim by. All hotel rooms on the bottom floor are provided with around-the-clock butler service to ensure a hassle-free stay experience and keep guests feeling pampered.
An indoor swimming pool features floor-to-ceiling windows offering a beautiful view of the outdoor waterfall.
Guests can partake in extreme challenges such as rock climbing, kayaking and the property’s glass-floored skywalk. Evenings are lit up by a night-time laser and water-screen show.
There are three restaurants, including Mr Fisher Specialty Restaurant, a specialty seafood venue that is located one floor below water level; Cai Feng Lou Chinese Restaurant; and ‘Commune’, an all-day dining eatery featuring various open kitchen stations. The restaurants are complemented by The Quarry Bar and She Shan Lounge.
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland’s meeting spaces and facilities include the Wonderland Grand Ballroom, a 900-square-metre, pillar-free ballroom with magnificent sky lighting, sub-dividable into three separate function rooms with the capability for drive-in displays. There are also five multifunction break-out rooms for added event flexibility.
Located right above the water level in the hotel’s rock quarry architecture, guests will find the Club InterContinental lounge offers an exclusive venue for social gatherings and business meetings, and a range of exclusive services and benefits for its guests.
The property is 32 kilometres from Hongqiao International Airport, near the Sheshan National Forest Park and Chenshan Botanical Garden.
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is the 200th InterContinental-branded hotel. Founded in 1946 by aviation pioneer, Juan Trippe, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has been on the forefront of the luxury hospitality industry for decades with a portfolio of 200 hotels and resorts in stunning locations around the world.
To celebrate reaching 200 destinations, the InterContinental brand partnered with London-based contemporary artist Alexander Hall, also known under the alias Haut de Gamme, to create an art installation commemorating the milestone. The art installation is made from 200 champagne bottles, individually hand-painted by Alexander Hall in his bright and energetic drip-style, with unique artwork on each bottle inspired by each destination. The finished bottles are suspended together in a stunning oeuvre to reveal the number ‘200’.
