A Summer 'Wonderland' Journey in Sheshan

On the cliffs: welcoming pine trees; by the precipice: a transparent walkway; trickling waterfalls plunging straight down – you can experience all this right in Sheshan, without leaving Shanghai!

In a secret realm embraced by valleys, encounter fairy-tale treehouses that instantly bring back childlike wonder; beside a glass walkway where water droplets spray like jade beads, take a spin on a vintage-style carousel. This is definitely the perfect recipe for making your summer social media posts go viral!

Think the only thing to do in Sheshan is Happy Valley?

Think the only hotel to stay at in Sheshan is the Forest Hotel?

Then you're a bit out of touch! Today, let's explore new ways to enjoy Sheshan and uncover the 'secret' beneath the deep pit that's been trending on social media.

It has to be said, this hotel has created too many miracles. From site selection, design to construction, it took 12 years. A building once not favored by many has now transformed into a hot hotel in the Magic City that's hard to book a room in. Yes, what I'm sharing with you today is the Sheshan Shimao InterContinental Hotel, officially opened in 2018. Because the building itself sits 88 meters below sea level, it's commonly known as the 'Deep Pit' hotel.

Shanghai Sheshan Shimao InterContinental Hotel

Address: Lane 5888, Chenhua Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai

Self-drive routes:

Jiangsu: G2 (A11) Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway, exit at Jiasong Highway southbound, then to Chenhua Road and continue west for 8.1 km.

Zhejiang: G60 (A8) Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, exit at Songjiang, follow Jiasong Highway to Chenhua Road and then west 8.1 km.

From downtown Shanghai: G50 (A9) Expressway, exit at Zhaoxiang, follow Jiasong Highway to Chenhua Road and west 8.1 km.

Bus route: Take Shanghai Metro Line 9 to Dongjing Station, transfer to Bus 96 for 15 minutes to West Gate of Shimao Nano Magic City.

It's also the 200th InterContinental hotel globally for the IHG brand. The hotel has over 300 rooms, all with scenic terraces. It's the world's first five-star hotel built inside a pit and has the lowest elevation.

The entire project involved investment of tens of billions, integrating modern distinctive architecture like natural indoor gardens, large-scale landscape waterfalls, scenic presidential suites, and underwater rooms.

At the entrance, the sculpture 'Rolling Clouds' is the hotel's most iconic art piece: a dragon-shaped design, partly solid stainless steel and partly hollowed-out stainless steel characters. Only up close can you spot the Chinese character decorations within.

The lobby's design theme, 'Adventure to the Earth's Core,' makes every guest feel like entering a 'quarry' to embark on a wonderful expedition. The front desk's entire backdrop wall features distinct, irregular curves reminiscent of rock strata – a highlight of the 'Earth's Core Adventure' core rock layer that strongly immerses you in the feeling of being inside a quarry.

The hotel has 2 floors above ground and 16 below, with 2 of those extending underwater. This unique design makes it one of the most challenging hotel constructions globally. Due to its revolutionary avant-garde architecture, it was recognized by National Geographic Channel's 'World's Great Engineering' as one of the 'World's Top Ten Architectural Wonders'.

Wouldn't you want to see such a miraculous building with your own eyes?

Originally, the Tianma Mountain deep pit was actually a mountain, overlooking Sheshan from the northeast. Earlier, it was blasted for quarrying; by the late 1950s, the entire hill was gone, and by the late 1970s, it had been excavated into a nearly 90-meter-deep pit.

Then after 7 years of planning and 5 years of construction, gathering world-class design teams and breaking through numerous technical barriers, the impossible was turned into a miracle!

Beyond its naturally eye-catching location, the Shanghai Sheshan Shimao InterContinental is also deeply meaningful inside. There are over 1,400 artworks and art installations everywhere, rivaling a professional art gallery or museum.

In the corridors, you see guest rooms on one side and pit-bottom stone materials and pillars on the other, giving you a wonderful sensation of walking through a mine. The elevator on the far right has a semi-transparent glass floor, so the thrill of going up and down speaks for itself – it's like a miniature moving glass walkway.

Room designs incorporate the color changes of geological rock strata, with red, blue, and gray-blue rooms inspired by iron, hematite, and calcium carbonate stone colors. The interior style is inspired by cliff faces, waterfalls, and hills. Every room offers views of the pit walls, and some even feature the spectacular sight of waterfalls cascading down.

From the moment you enter the room, just say 'Xiaodu' and you can interact with the AI anytime, experiencing smart hotel living. Easily control the room's lighting, curtains, door curtains, and screens, and change the do-not-disturb/cleaning indicator light at the door. This legendary trending hotel isn't just good-looking on the outside; it's also quite refined inside.

Toiletries are from the Ferragamo Tuscan Scents collection, and the hair dryer is the trendy Dyson. This certainly elevates the room quality even further. All drinks in the minibar are complimentary – enough to drink your fill.

Staying in such a room, you might wonder the same as me: how is it waterproof, fireproof, and earthquake-resistant?

Waterproofing: As we all know, water flows downhill. Addressing water accumulation in this 100-meter-deep pit was a major challenge. Based on historical hydrological data for Shanghai, a pump was installed to ensure daily water level changes in the lake stay within a safe range of 500 mm. This figure was derived from studying Shanghai's historical hydrology, which showed that single-day precipitation in Shanghai had never exceeded 300 mm in the past 500 years.

Fire safety: In case of fire, fire trucks can't enter the pit. So the hotel connected every balcony to the fire escape route, ensuring residents can evacuate at the fastest speed in the event of a fire.

Earthquake resistance: If an earthquake occurs, how to escape from the pit? The design team, through geological surveys and structural engineering calculations, simulated and repeatedly tested the building's strength and seismic performance, ensuring it can withstand earthquakes of magnitude 9 or above. In reality, given Shanghai's geography, the likelihood of a high-intensity earthquake is extremely low; as long as it's not a tsunami, Shanghai is generally quite safe.

Beyond the luxurious rooms, every minute spent at Shanghai Sheshan Shimao InterContinental is super fulfilling. With three distinct themed restaurants and two bars, you can savor renowned global cuisine without leaving the hotel. Of course, I believe many visitors come specifically for its underwater restaurant.

On the ground floor, 'Nine Peaks in the Clouds,' the hotel's lobby lounge, caters to most guests' needs daily. Here, visitors can sit back and enjoy endless views of the pit, and also catch spontaneous spectacular water curtain shows. The water screen displays changing patterns accompanied by beautiful music, dreamlike and enchanting.

At the back area on the same floor as the lobby is the hotel's all-day dining restaurant, 'Source Café.' It offers buffet-style global cuisine around the clock, and its terrace seats also afford boundless views of the hotel, making it the most cost-effective dining option.

The well-known IHG Chinese restaurant, Cai Feng Lou, is on the second floor. Its decor incorporates Chinese traditional cultural elements like auspicious birds, birdcages, and feathers, exuding an antique charm; the dim yellow lighting creates a uniquely gorgeous atmosphere. The chefs specialize in Cantonese cuisine, presenting exquisite specialties daily.

After dining, you can take a stroll on the hotel's specially set outdoor leisure platform at the center of the lake, watching the sunset or the starry sky. It's seamlessly connected to the hotel's bar and swimming pool, and the outdoor chairs are highly design-oriented. At night, this is the most popular spot among guests.

Located on the 15th floor, Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant is the legendary underwater dining spot. Stepping into the aquarium-surrounded Fisherman's Wharf, you'll be captivated by the colorful underwater world and the ocean ambiance that greets you. The atmosphere here is so alluring. Seating is very limited, and all meals must be booked in advance. The restaurant specializes in seafood and Western cuisine.

Staff say that some female guests have said during a meal here that if someone proposed here, she would say yes immediately. That just shows how captivating the environment of Fisherman's Wharf is.

So, who is behind this magnificent project? The design and construction was led by the Atkins team under Martin Jochman. If that sounds unfamiliar, think of the world's first seven-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, which many know—the Atkins team previously designed that. That's a key reason why Sheshan Shimao InterContinental is so extraordinary.

If you thought staying at the Deep Pit hotel only offers sunrise views and waterfall sounds, you're mistaken. Right beside the hotel are two vibrant amusement venues that greatly enrich hotel life.

‘Deep Pit Wonderland’ Elf City Theme Park

Address: Adjacent to Shanghai Shimao Sheshan InterContinental Hotel (walking distance)

Opening hours: 10:00–18:00

Ticket price: Adult single park ticket 120 yuan/person

Free admission policy: Children under 1.1m (inclusive) enter free.

Just steps from the hotel, the ‘Deep Pit Wonderland’ Elf City Theme Park is the best place to get a full view of the hotel. Its glass walkway is about 80 meters long and offers the best vantage point to admire the Sheshan Shimao InterContinental Hotel.

Above the glass walkway is the 360-degree thrilling cliffside swinging pendulum, a signature attraction visible right from your hotel room. Besides that, the park has fairy treehouses, desert archaeology, a dream water zone, and bug world, all designed to attract visitors with immersive experiences.

At the center, the 15-meter-high dreamy elf treehouse is full of whimsical structures. Moving through the giant tree hollows is perfect for kids playing hide-and-seek, and adults can join their children winding through the tree tunnels up to the rooftop to search for the joyful elves hiding there!

Along the lush jungle path, there's a giant insect world and a secret urban backyard garden. Not far from the entrance, the dream water zone invites you to an exhilarating water gun battle!

The park's core attraction is 'Fly Over the Deep Pit,' a high-flying zip line that lets you admire the hotel's panorama while gliding. You lie almost flat on the zip board, flying from one side of the pit to the other, make a turn, and fly back, with the hundred-meter-deep pool right below you. Just imagining it is thrilling. Unfortunately, due to recent pandemic and rainy weather, it hasn't officially opened, which is a slight regret. But even coming just for the glass walkway is still a great experience.

If you think Deep Pit Wonderland is just kids' games, then compared to this appetizer, the Smurf Park 500 meters away is essentially a blue version of Disney. What's even more delightful is that the entire park is indoors. So whether it rains or shines, with outdoor temperatures soaring above 35°C, you can still take your kids to play without any worry. Though the park's name recognition can't match Disney's, the overall experience and the variety of attractions are in no way inferior – and it's super cost-effective.

Shanghai Shimao Smurfs Theme Park

Address: No. 5088 Chenhua Road, Songjiang District

Opening hours: 10:00–18:00

Ticket prices: Adult single park 160 yuan/person, child 99 yuan/person

This is the first Smurfs theme park in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing classic characters like Papa Smurf, the goddess Smurfette, Brainy Smurf, trouble-making Clumsy Smurf, inventor Handy Smurf, and the evil Gargamel, breaking through the two-dimensional barrier to appear as characters in the 'Elf City' right before your eyes.

The Smurfs Park officially opened only at the end of May this year, so not many visitors know about it yet. Many Shanghai locals still think Sheshan only has Happy Valley and Maya Water World for adults. This has long been a regret for families with children. Now, the Smurfs Park fills that gap, making a Sheshan vacation not just a promise for kids but a real paradise they can call their own.

Recommended route: Journey to the Center of the Earth - Soaring Wonderland - Adventure King 6D Cinema - Forest Maze - Berry Swing - Magic Mirror Transformation - Pepe's Jam Cup - Berry Roller Coaster - Painting Magic Brush - Smurfette's Garden - Dark Laboratory - Potion Mixer - Azrael Cat Jump Tower - Swamp Adventure.

After passing the Elf Tree at the entrance, you reach the park's first core area. It's quite a bold move to allocate such a large space to a flying-type ride. Many parents or visitors might think, 'Oh, that's all?' at this point, but actually it's just the tip of the iceberg. Later you'll understand why this big open area is needed – it's prepared for the parade.

Attraction recommendations:

Journey to the Center of the Earth: The journey is divided into five parts: heading to the Earth's core – Earth's minerals – encountering an earthquake – escaping lava – entering the core. The sound and light effects are superb, creating a tense atmosphere throughout. The best part is that the mine carts rotate 360 degrees, swerving back and forth inside, which is really fun. As it's the first high-tech attraction after entering the park, the queue tends to be long.

Adventure King 6D Cinema: Playing the same story on the hour from 10 am when the park opens. As a 6D cinema, it naturally includes 3D visuals, 4D motion seats, 5D smoke, and 6D water mist effects. If once isn't enough, you can easily catch another show at a different time.

Soaring Wonderland: A large suspended spherical dome cinema with 4 rows of cabins, about 5 minutes long. There are height and age restrictions: only for persons 1.4m to 1.95m tall and under 60 years old. So it's almost more suited for adults, proving the Smurfs Park is not just for kids; many attractions are exciting for grown-ups too, requiring a bit of adventure.

When you step into the Smurf-themed forest maze, you'll instantly feel as if you've shrunk – all the plants and animals are magnified many times over. It's quite novel and fun for both adults and children.

The most adult-friendly rides are Pepe's Jam Cup and Berry Roller Coaster. If time permits, riding them eight or ten times wouldn't be too much.

Painting Magic Brush is a parent-child activity suitable for those with an interest in art. If your child likes drawing and hands-on tasks, they'll find joyful space here. Outside, rows of children's artworks are displayed, making even me feel humbled.

The Gargamel's House area is a bit darker overall. Among the series of Dark Laboratory - Potion Mixer - Azrael Cat Jump Tower - Swamp Adventure, I personally recommend the Dark Laboratory. It's like a mini haunted house. Fortunately, there are many visitors going in and out, so you're not alone; if you had to walk through alone, it would be a bit scary. Exiting, you can slide down a slide that isn't too steep; safety is assured.

Swamp Adventure, a game found in many parks, becomes more exciting with added competition and scoring. Everyone's probably played Plants vs. Zombies; here the weapons are cute pink peas. Four players enter battle, and individual rankings and scores are displayed in real-time on an outdoor screen. A favorite among both kids and adults.

Of course, since we keep comparing this park to Disney, a grand parade is essential. At 2:30 pm daily, a large-scale interactive character parade starts on time. All the residents and monsters of Smurf Village appear on the main street. Visitors can interact with them and take photos for free; the performers are very cooperative and friendly. Because it's indoors, you don't have to worry about the heat while waiting. This might be one of the few parades I've enjoyed without breaking a sweat.

Anytime, the Smurf-themed restaurants in the park offer various set meals, mostly around 50 yuan each, with generous portions and pleasant dining environments. I have to say, on a scorching summer day, I have so much fondness for this all-indoor park.

As you leave, the Elf Gift World offers a wide selection of Smurf merchandise – figurines and plush toys you won't find in the city or other parks, carrying great souvenir value.

For tickets, it's recommended to buy a combo ticket for Smurfs Park + Deep Pit Wonderland; this way, the Deep Pit Wonderland is practically free. You can spend the afternoon at both parks, then return to your room in the evening to enjoy the unmatched scenery of the Deep Pit hotel and global cuisine.

This summer, come to Sheshan to escape the heat, experience a 'must-see in a lifetime' architectural wonder, and enjoy an indoor fairy-tale park with your family and children. Are you ready?

Every encounter is like a first meeting. I'm @Shanghai Cold Air, happy to meet you online. Looking forward to meeting you on our next journey. Thank you.