WORLD FIRST: Ground-scraper hotel built in Shanghai quarry
Intercontinental hotels has opened its 200th hotel making it the world’s largest luxury hotel brand.
And it’s not just any hotel they’ve chosen as their 200th, the newly opened Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland is the world’s first ‘ground scraper’, built into the side wall of a formerly abandoned quarry in Southwestern Shanghai.
Stretching 88 metres underground, the hotel was nominated as one of the architectural wonders of the world by the National Geographic Channel’s MegaStructures series due to its pioneering architectural design.
The 18-storey hotel even includes two entire floors of underwater loft suites with a landing deck at water level (including an outdoor terrace and living room) and underwater bedrooms encased within a turquoise aquarium.
Plus, all hotel rooms on the bottom floor are provided with around-the-clock butler service, of course.
On other levels, guests get panoramic views of an artificial waterfall on the quarry wall.
The 336-room hotel has taken 12 years and 5,000 architects, engineers, designers and construction workers to build, according to the ABC.
And it comes with some pretty swanky features, including sports and recreation facilities like rock climbing and bungee jumping.
However, many people have connected the new opening with recent footage posted to Weibo that revealed cleaning staff using used towels to clean toilets and cups.
“I just want to know if their cups are cleaned properly,” said a Weibo user with the nickname Wangshenjing, according to the ABC.
“Will they clean the cup with the towel that was used to clean the toilet?” another asked.
But with prices ranging from $668 to $14,000 we assume the toilets will be cleaned with gold encrusted sponges that are kept separate from those used to clean the mugs.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
intercontinental Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland shanghaiLatest News
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