Lowest Altitude Hotel in the World

2020-10-22

At an altitude of minus 88 meters, it is known as one of the ten architectural wonders of the world. With breathtaking views below the horizon, InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is the lowest hotel in the world.

InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is situated at the base of Tianma Mountain, within a deep pit in Shanghai's Sheshan range. In 2006, the Shimao Group recognized the potential of this unique natural environment and transformed the scars of mining into an urban treasure. The hotel capitalizes on its distinctive location, seamlessly integrating with the cliffs surrounding a waterfall.

Positioned 88 meters below ground level and constructed against the quarry cliff, it encompasses a total area of 61,087 square meters. This ambitious project took 12 years to complete and required an investment of 2 billion yuan. 

During its construction, it secured 41 patents while addressing five pioneering challenges. It has been honored as one of two miraculous hotels among the world's top ten architectural wonders. Along with Jumeirah Burj Al Arab Dubai, InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland was selected as two of the top ten Architectural Wonders of the world.

Martin Yorman, the world's top designer, is responsible for the construction of the project. The hotel makes full use of the curved shape of the deep pit rock wall and the entire building is visually "c" font, unique shape and complex structure.

The hotel building pattern is 2 floors on the ground and 16 floors underground (including 2 floors below the water). The "Roll Yun Shu" at the entrance is the representative sculpture of the hotel, which can fully feel the charm of nature and art.

The hotel has 336 rooms and suites, all of which feature an open-air observation deck with an 80-meter-high glass waterfall with an 8-meter overhang, as well as a customized water curtain light show. The hotel combines different levels of landscape above and below the deep pit and the horizon to create exquisite themes and to perfectly demonstrate the design concept of "blending into nature".

After ten years of hard work, InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland has created not only the world record for the lowest altitude hotel in the world, but also its architectural concept of developing toward the sky, following the natural environment and opening up architectural space under the landmark, which has become a revolutionary initiative in human architectural design concept.