In China’s Songjiang district, just outside Shanghai, engineers achieved a remarkable feat of architecture by building the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland — a 5-star luxury hotel constructed entirely inside an abandoned quarry. Known as the “Shimao Quarry Hotel,” this 18-story marvel plunges 88 meters below ground level, with 16 floors built inside the rock face and 2 submerged underwater. The project began in 2006 and took over 12 years and $500 million to complete, finally opening its doors in 2018.

Rather than altering the landscape, the design harmonizes with nature. The hotel features waterfalls flowing down the quarry walls, a glass-bottomed skywalk, and underwater suites offering views of an aquarium-style lagoon. Its construction was considered nearly impossible due to engineering challenges like water seepage, structural safety, and environmental preservation. Today, the hotel stands as a symbol of modern architectural innovation — turning a once-forgotten industrial scar into a breathtaking luxury destination.