Vikki Moran
Updated on: October 11, 2024 9:07 am GMT
Located in a former quarry about 30 miles west of Shanghai, the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland stands as the world’s first underground hotel, a feat of architectural ingenuity and luxury design. Featured in the recent season of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, this hotel offers not only a unique lodging experience but also an intriguing exploration of how innovation and nature can coexist.
An Architectural Marvel
When guests arrive at the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, they discover an extraordinary engineering achievement: the hotel is essentially an upside-down skyscraper. With just two floors above ground and 16 below, the hotel descends to a remarkable depth of 88 meters. Every room features views of the quarry, which enhances the sense of immersion in the natural surroundings.
The hotel, with a construction cost of approximately £200 million, took 12 years to finish due to the technical challenges involved in building so far underground. The polished glass and dull aluminum exterior blend seamlessly with the quarry’s rock face, while the hotel’s curved design mimics the shape of the surrounding landscape. A glass lift shaft, designed to resemble a cascading waterfall, adds to the hotel’s modern aesthetic.
Guest Experience
The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland features over 330 rooms, each carefully designed to harmonize comfort with the thrill of the extraordinary setting. Reviews describe the Premium King room as spacious, adorned with steampunk-inspired decor, and complete with advanced technology. An in-room tablet powered by Baidu, a Chinese equivalent to Google, allows guests to control features such as opening blinds – provided they can communicate in Mandarin.
For those seeking a lavish stay, the hotel provides opulent duplex suites with aquariums integrated into the living space, creating the illusion of being underwater. These suites highlight the commitment to delivering a unique experience, making the hotel popular among affluent travelers looking for something beyond the ordinary.
On-site Amenities and Dining
Culinary offerings in the hotel cater to a wide range of tastes. The on-site buffet restaurant, Commune, serves an assortment of dishes from local Chinese delicacies to traditional Western breakfasts. Guests can enjoy wontons cooked to order or indulge in a wide selection of international options.
Cai Feng Lou, the hotel’s signature Chinese restaurant, features traditional banquet-style dining with dishes like braised belly pork and fried spicy crab. The setting on the upper ground floor offers diners a stunning view across the top of the quarry. In the evenings, Mr. Fisher showcases seafood-centric tasting menus, allowing guests to dine next to impressive aquariums filled with marine life, including stingrays and nurse sharks.
A Unique Cultural Dimension
The hotel’s significance extends beyond luxury accommodations; it also embraces elements of Chinese culture. Many guests, primarily Chinese, appreciate the emphasis on the number eight—a symbol of good fortune in Chinese culture. This theme can be observed throughout the property, including the hotel’s address, phone number, and even the timing of daily breakfast service, which begins at the notable hour of 6:28 a.m.
Such cultural nuances enhance the experience for visitors, making the hotel not only a place to stay but a destination in itself. For those seeking a blend of luxury and uniqueness, the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland offers an unforgettable experience.
Entertainment and Attractions
An essential part of the experience at the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is the nightly light show, which transforms the quarry wall into a stunning visual display. Guests are treated to animated light projections complemented by music and drone displays, turning each room’s balcony into a front-row seat to this spectacle. Although this event isn’t widely advertised, it has gained popularity among visitors and adds another layer to the overall experience.
Daytime activities include exploring the hotel’s surroundings, which feature a man-made lake and a theme park for children. Beyond the tranquility of the quarry’s foliage and the soothing sounds of nature, guests can enjoy various experiences designed to make their stay enjoyable and memorable.
Conclusion
Since it opened in November 2018, the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland has become a well-known place for its amazing design and smart technology. This hotel is special because it mixes beautiful architecture with a strong connection to nature. It offers a unique experience for both travelers on vacation and those on business trips. As shown in a recent episode of *Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby*, the hotel is more than just a place to stay; it’s a fascinating spot to explore. Visitors can truly enjoy this special place that shows how modern buildings can work well with the environment.
