For more than a decade, China has been a front-runner in the world's skyscraper race. Now the country is taking the pole position in digging "groundscrapers" - enormous structures built mostly underground. The construction of a high-end hotel at the foot of Tianma Mountain in Shanghai in a 100-meter-deep pit has broken ground recently.
Developed by Shanghai Shimao Property Group and managed by InterContinental Hotels Group, the hotel, named InterContinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, is expected to extend 19 stories into the bottom of the pit and open in late 2014 or early 2015.
Shimao purchased the surrounding land in 2006 in order to build Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, a large-scale theme park integrating hospitality, leisure and entertainment elements. Designed by UK-based engineering firm Atkins, the hotel is planned as part of the wonderland complex. The 19-story hotel will have three levels above ground, and 16 underground, including an underwater restaurant.
Hotel planners are considering taking advantage of the site's surrounding cliffs by hosting extreme sporting activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping.
SOURCE CTBUH
