Travel with Yue: InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland (Shimao Shenkeng Hotel)
The world's first natural eco-hotel built inside an abandoned quarry. On a site 88 meters deep with nearly vertical slopes. From piling, transporting construction materials, installing tower cranes, earthquake resistance, to waterproofing – almost every step was an unprecedented, extreme challenge in construction history.
With non-essential travel out of Shanghai discouraged, we took Yue to experience this iconic landmark that set over 40 world records and took 13 years to complete.
The hotel's restaurant on underground level 15 offers a dining experience where you can watch fish while eating. Tonight we celebrated Grandpa's birthday there, and also to let Yue experience an underwater world. I had expected a wraparound aquarium, but it turned out to be a glass wall, and the variety of fish was just so-so.
Appetizer: Foie gras terrine with balsamic vinegar dressing. Be sure to eat it together with the poached pear, otherwise it's very salty.
Soup: Creamy cabbage soup with seared scallops. Unlike a plain cream of mushroom soup, the black truffle added depth and elevated the whole dish.
Hot appetizer: Silver cod with asparagus and creamy clams. Cooked perfectly – the fish flaked off beautifully.
Main course: Wagyu beef fillet with morel mushrooms, honey peas, and red wine sauce.
Dessert: Chocolate mousse – rich and intense, though those who don't like sweets may find it too sweet.
It was a set menu, priced at 988 yuan per adult and 198 yuan per child. Overall, the value for money was just average.
The main purpose of this trip was to celebrate Grandpa's birthday. The most important thing was getting together with family and friends!
— Nearby farmhouse restaurants
We tried three farmhouse restaurants. One of them specializes in whole roast lamb, which needs to be ordered a day in advance. If you have a big group, it's a great choice.
When the whole lamb was served, Grandpa said to Yue, "Watch the aunty carve the lamb," but Yue immediately corrected him: "No, she's a big sister." The server broke into a radiant smile.
After the meal, Yue performed a dance for the grandparents and even pulled Grandpa up to join, bringing endless laughter.
— Swimming on underground level 14
We were given tickets to the nearby Shenkeng Ocean World water park, but after checking reviews, we found it not highly rated – hygiene concerns, overcrowded. Since it's all about playing in water anyway, swimming in the hotel’s pool felt so much more enjoyable.
This was also Yue's favorite spot. The indoor pool is heated, and the children's pool water temperature is slightly warmer than the adult pool.
Yue couldn't get enough – two swims a day were barely enough for her.
Playing and laughing with you, filling your days with joy…
— Light and water screen show
Every evening at 7:30 and 8:30, there are two light and water screen shows with different themes.
When traveling with Yue, we stick as much as possible to her daily routine – three meals, afternoon nap, and playtime. With the summer holidays approaching, while she's still in kindergarten, let’s just have all the fun we can!
