The Hotel of the future, planned to open in Shanghai May 2018, partly underwater

Shanghai on the East coast of China. Map from Wikitravel. Singapore Airlines flies to Shanghai.

Problem
What is it and where?

The hotel is in East Shanghai, east coast of China. Songjiang district.

Whose Hotel?
InterContinental Shimao Wonderland hotel.

Do I want to visit Shanghai?
Yes, This isn't in the centre, nor on the art deco Bund or quayside but 30 miles from the centre. However, the hotel is a resort in itself with a swimming pool, spa, several restaurants and views of either the lake from overhead or the side of an aquarium glass.

What's the cost? About £200 and upwards for a room. Official opening May 2018. Soft opening late 2017. You might get rooms cheaper earlier.
Will I get a room?
It will have many bedrooms, about 370.

Viewing what?
Balconies overlooking the artificial lake. The lowest two floors will be underwater.

I looked up InterContinental and the price of hotels. They are branching out into 'budget' - I think that means three star, not one star. Their hotels in London - I'm looking at rack rate, the asking rate, is more than the £200 minimum at the new outside Shanghai hotel. However, it cost only about £100 if you want an InterContinental hotel in Shanghai Pudong - that's the waterside area where I stayed in a skyscriper hotel, overlooking the historic hotels on the other bank (you take a cheap ferry).

However, that's if you want a hotel as a base for sightseeing. If you want the facilities, the dream hotel which is a destination in its own right, then you have to be prepared to contribute to the millions of dollars and the years of time spent building. They started this massive project which involved landscaping and logistics of a buidling partly under water - you can see what it involved - back in 2006).

How about just going in for a meal, or a look? Many places with spectacular views charge for access to a viewing platform, with a timed queue, and let you in to the eating areas only if you have a reservation for a room or a meal. They take your credit card details when you book.

A good way to get a discount and news is to join their Rewards Club and hope for an opportunity for an upgrade or a low-season offer.

That's ok. Let's just wait for the next conference and the wonderful pictures of this grand, literally ground-breaking building.

Helpful Websites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimao_Wonderland_Intercontinental
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-5081567/The-rise-rise-China-s-groundscraper-hotel.html
https://newatlas.com/shimao-intercontinental-hotel/22283/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shimao-Wonderland-Intercontinental/268725396571163

YouTube video of hotel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ErIccvDDw4

Early days explanation of the origin of the site as a quarry, showing predicted waterfall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQqZvrxBUQk
If you want an intercontintal hotel elsewhere, check them out here:
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/reservation
http://www.singaporeair.com


Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.