InterContinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, developed by Shanghai Shimao Property Group and to be managed by the InterContinental Hotels Group, is expected to open in late 2014 or early 2015.

The 19-story hotel will have two levels above ground and 17 underground, including an underwater restaurant and other entertainment facilities such as an indoor nature garden, a waterfall and presidential suites with views. Built into an 80-meter pit, the hotel is expected to be the lowest-lying hotel in the world.

Hotel planners are also considering taking advantage of the site's surrounding cliffs by hosting activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping.

Shimao purchased the surrounding land in 2006 in order to build Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, a large-scale theme park integrating hospitality, leisure and entertainment. The hotel is planned as part of the wonderland complex, and also an important move to integrate tourism resources around the existing Sheshan resort.

The lowest floor of the luxury resort will be approximately 700 meters below the top floor of the planned world’s tallest hotel, the Shanghai Tower J Hotel in Shanghai Tower, set for completion around the same time.