Culinary delights, shopping, photography, cultural exploration, hiking, luxury, weekend getaway – these are just some of the activities that await you at the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, also known as the Deep Pit Hotel. Nestled at No. 5888 Chenhua Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China, this unique hotel stands out as ‘the world’s lowest altitude five-star hotel.’ The architectural design was led by the same team that created the iconic Burj Al Arab in Dubai, with Martin Jochman at the helm. It took a decade of meticulous work to complete, with the hotel officially opening its doors in November 2018.
Driven by curiosity, I have had the pleasure of visiting the hotel multiple times since its inception, with a recent revisit that left me just as captivated as the first. The hotel management maintains a strict protocol, requiring registration information upon entering the parking lot and access to the elevator only with a room key or under the guidance of restaurant or bar staff.
The Deep Pit Hotel is built on the site of a quarry, a remnant of the Japanese invasion of China, which was later nationalized after liberation. Abandoned for many years, the 88-meter-deep quarry was transformed into a wonder of modern architecture by Shimao Group. A British design team, in collaboration with the East China Architectural Design Institute, took on the project, with construction executed by China Construction Eighth Engineering Division.
This hotel is one of only two hotels selected as one of the world’s top ten architectural wonders, alongside the Burj Al Arab, and it currently holds the title of the lowest altitude hotel in the world. The hotel’s design thoughtfully incorporates artifacts from the quarry, such as bowls and iron ladders, into its modern aesthetic, creating a seamless blend of history and innovation.An artificial waterfall. The hotel has a construction area of 61,087 square meters with approximately 370 rooms. It has two above-ground floors and 15 underground floors. Room prices are related to the floor level, with lower floors being more expensive. Room sizes range from 35 to 48 square meters and are categorized as Garnet, Turquoise, Sapphire, Ruby, and Executive Rooms. Unlike other hotels, the higher the floor number, the lower it is! The two lowest levels visible in the pit, levels 12 and 13, are Ruby Executive Rooms. There is an executive lounge and a water bar in the Beauty and Health Center on the 13th floor, offering breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening happy hours. Level 14 features a bar, restaurant, gym, and swimming pool. The afternoon sun. Scheduled water curtain fountain performances. Level 15 is the dark luxury floor with a seafood restaurant and 18 underwater suites (over 100 square meters in size). Allowing you to immerse yourself in an underwater world! Cute jellyfish, ever-changing. Fine wines waiting for you. Overlooking. Friends and relatives should book in advance if they plan to visit or stay at the hotel, usually three days in advance. It is recommended to follow the hotel’s official website, or you can also book through other travel websites. Wishing everyone a delightful dining experience, comfortable stay, and enjoyable time! It is a place worth exploring! Author’s recent photo. Taken by Wang Lin. Mr. Chen Yinguo is a national senior photographer and arts and crafts artist.Member of multiple photography associations. Graduated from university with a major in Chinese and photography. He used to work at Wenhui Daily. Mr. Chen Yinguo’s ‘Xiaxiang Photography’ trademark was successfully registered on June 21, 2016, by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, making him the first photographer in China to own his own brand. He has held many solo exhibitions of ‘Xiaxiang Photography’ and received praise from all sides. Mr. Chen Yinguo is skilled in various types of photography such as news, portraits, architecture, and landscapes. He participated in the Shanghai ‘World Photographers Look at Shanghai’ event and won awards. He also participated in the aerial photography and shooting of several Shanghai ‘Major Projects in Shanghai’ albums. Editing and shooting for Shanghai Photography magazine and other magazines and albums. His photographic works have been published in various newspapers, magazines, and websites across the country. As an invited guest, Chen Yinguo has lectured in the photography lecture series at Shanghai Oriental Television Station and taught undergraduate and other photography-related topics at Donghua University. A special author for Jinmen Network.
