🏨 InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland: Inside the World's First Underground Hotel
What do you do with an abandoned, water-filled quarry that is 88 metres deep? 🕳️ Most people would see a hazard. Engineers and architects saw an opportunity. The result is the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland—a five-star luxury hotel built directly into the cliff face of a disused quarry. With 16 of its 18 floors underground and two floors completely underwater, it is one of the most ambitious construction projects ever completed. In this civil engineering explainer, you'll learn how this "earthscraper" was designed, the challenges engineers overcame, and why it is a landmark of sustainable construction.
🎬 Watch the quick explainer Short above 👆
🧱 What Is the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland?
The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland—also known as the Shimao Quarry Hotel or Tianma Pit Hotel—is a five-star resort built on the site of an abandoned quarry in the Songjiang District of Shanghai, China. It opened on 20 November 2018 and is widely recognized as the world's first underground five-star hotel.
The hotel is an earthscraper: instead of rising into the sky, it descends into the ground. Of its 18 floors, only two are above ground. The remaining 16 floors are underground, including two that are submerged underwater. The entire structure hugs the quarry's rock face, creating a seamless blend of architecture and nature.
📊 Key Facts at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 📍 Location | Songjiang District, Shanghai, China |
| 📏 Depth | 88 metres below ground level |
| 🏢 Floors | 18 total — 2 above ground, 16 underground, 2 underwater |
| 🛏️ Rooms | 336–337 guest rooms and suites |
| 💰 Investment | Approximately US$555 million |
| 📐 Total Floor Area | About 61,000 square metres |
| 🗓️ Opened | 20 November 2018 |
| ✍️ Architect | Martin Jochman (JADE + QA), with Atkins and ECADI |
🎨 Design and Architecture
The hotel was designed by Martin Jochman—the architect behind Dubai's Burj Al Arab—along with UK-based engineering firm Atkins and local partner ECADI. Jochman described the project as "probably the most important building" he has designed.
The design is defined by its relationship with the quarry. Instead of hiding the industrial scars, the hotel embraces the natural rock face. Key architectural features include:
- 💧 A 60-metre glass curtain wall that cascades down the cliff, mimicking a waterfall.
- 🌿 A rooftop covered in lush greenery, allowing the building to blend into the surrounding landscape.
- 🐠 Underwater rooms and an aquarium restaurant, where guests can watch marine life swim past their windows.
- 🪨 Exposed rock surfaces integrated into the interior, connecting the building to its geological context.
⚠️ The Engineering Challenges
Building a hotel inside a deep, water-filled quarry is not a standard project. The construction team—led by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC)—faced a series of formidable challenges.
1️⃣ Flooding Risk
A nearby river overflowed during early construction, filling half the quarry. The final design includes a pumping station to regulate water levels.
2️⃣ Earthquake Regulations
The structure had to meet strict seismic codes, requiring careful analysis and foundation design to ensure stability in a deep pit.
3️⃣ Water Level Control
Maintaining a stable water level was critical, both to protect the structure and to create the underwater floors.
4️⃣ Building Underwater
Constructing two submerged floors at the bottom of a quarry required specialized techniques and materials to resist water pressure.
The project was initially considered "impossible to build" because it "runs counter to all the basics of engineering and construction," according to Kenneth Chan of the Shimao Group. Delays pushed the opening from an initial target of 2014 to 2018.
🌱 Sustainability Features
Beyond its engineering feats, the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is notable for its environmental approach. Rather than abandoning the quarry, the project rehabilitated a damaged landscape.
- ☀️ Geothermal and solar energy are used for heating and lighting, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- 🌿 Rooftop greenery provides insulation and helps the building blend into the natural environment.
- ♻️ Rehabilitation of an industrial site turns a forgotten pit into a thriving destination, a model cited by UNESCO representatives as an example of sustainable development.
- 💧 Water management systems help regulate the quarry's water levels and protect the surrounding ecosystem.
🏨 What Is It Like to Stay There?
The hotel offers a unique experience that combines luxury with extreme geography. Guests can enjoy:
- 🪟 Panoramic quarry views from every room, looking out onto cliffs, waterfalls, and green hills.
- 🐟 Underwater suites with front-row views of fish and marine life.
- 🧗 Extreme sports on the quarry cliffs, including bungee jumping, rock climbing, and kayaking.
- 🍽️ An underwater seafood restaurant, Mr. Fisher, surrounded by an aquarium.
- 💆 A spa with views over the water-filled quarry, adding to the sense of calm.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 What is the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland in simple words?
It is a five-star luxury hotel built inside an abandoned quarry in Shanghai, China. The hotel is 88 metres deep, with 16 of its 18 floors underground and two floors completely underwater.
⚠️ What were the main engineering challenges during construction?
Engineers had to address earthquake safety, flooding risks from a nearby river, maintaining water levels, and building an underwater structure in a deep pit. The project also required innovative lateral support systems to stabilize the quarry walls.
🎨 What are some key design features of the hotel?
The hotel features a 60-metre glass curtain wall that mimics a waterfall, a rooftop covered in greenery, underwater rooms and an aquarium restaurant, and a design that hugs the cliff face to blend with the natural landscape.
🌱 Is the hotel sustainable?
Yes. The hotel uses geothermal and solar energy for heating and lighting, and its rooftop greenery helps insulate the building. It is considered a model of sustainable development by UNESCO representatives.
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