Imagine this: 12 years in the making, a hotel built in an abandoned quarry, bringing life to an old industrial site. This is all within reach at the new luxury InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland hotel. Pitched against a dramatic cliffside with a 88-meter drop it will astound even the most seasoned travelers.
The interior aptly follows an aqua theme. From swimming pools, rock climbing and kayaking facilities on the lower levels, to a central atrium featuring a striking man-made waterfall and a total of 16 storys (88 metres below ground), there are many ways to make a splash here.
Each of the hotel's 336 guest rooms opens up a window view of the waterfall, and further interior details exude underwater lofts and built-in aquariums. In the spirit of entertaining, a range of restaurants and bars are strategically placed above ground, offering panoramic views of the quarry.
The lead architect and concept designer, Martin Jochman, is renowned for breathing new life into industrial wastelands with hardlined steel contours and grandiose glass facades. With InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, the objective is similar: to bring renewed interest to the abandoned quarry pit by maximizing the resources readily found on site.
The quarry itself, for example, is a hub for geothermal and solar energy. The idea is that the hotel will feed fully on electricity converted from these sources, to form a sustainable energy system within its immediate environment.
While Songjiang might seem like miles away from central Shanghai, the vicinity around the hotel shows promising signs for tourism development. Officially part of the 'Sheshan National Tourist Resort,' the area comprising a green national forest, a golf club, the Shanghai Sculpture Park and Happy Valley sits comfortably within reach.
Whether you are planning a staycation or a day-trip out, we have no doubt that a jaunt to the 'quarry hotel' will delight the entire family, and become a talking point for the months to follow.
Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, see listing here.
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