CHINA’S latest five-star hotel is literally ground breaking.
Built into the wall side of a formerly abandoned quarry, 30kms from the centre of Shanghai, the new $300 million InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland provides a fantasy world away from the frenetic pace of the city.
The jaw-dropping 18-storey, 336-room hotel, which opened last November, is mostly subterranean, with two floors above ground and 16 below the ground, including two floors entirely underwater.

The underwater suites are submerged inside a 33-foot-deep aquarium so guests are surrounded by schools of fish and sea creatures while relaxing in their living rooms.
All suites on the bottom floor – the most expensive suites will set you back $14,000 a night – come with 24/7 butlers, and a theatre box from where you can watch the nightly water show.
Those without aquarium views have balconies where guests can take in views of purpose-built waterfalls spilling down the quarry walls.

This record-breaking hotel, which is close to the Sheshan Mountain National Forest Park and Chenshan Mountain Botanic Gardens, also has an underwater seafood restaurant Mr Fisher and The Quarry Bar boasting breathtaking views.
For the adventure-junkies, the ‘Deep Pit Hotel’ also provides the opportunity to try bungee jumping and rock climbing.

The unique property was designed by Martin Jochman, the architect behind Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, who said he wanted to create a hotel that integrated with its natural environment.
“The intention was not only functional, but to create a place that would become a refuge, a tranquil, luxurious fantasy world away from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai,” Jochman says.
