The five-star hotel built in a desolated quarry pit at the foot of Tianma Hill in Songjiang, about 22 miles away from Shanghai city's center, is undergoing a major facelift and will be put to use late next year.

After experiencing some delay, it is finally turning its elaborate plan to fruition, and it seems that the wonderland is finally getting off, or rather into, the ground.

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Shimao Wonderland Intercontinental hotel will become the first subterranean luxury hotel equipped with 370 guest rooms.

The Shanghai Shimao Property Group officially launched the project on September 2007. The National Geographic is documenting the progress.

The soon-to-rise hotel will  have a total of 19 stories - with only two floors protruding from the surface. And these will be built against the rocky side of the 87-meter-deep pit.

Meanwhile, the hotel's amenities including the lobby, restaurants, conference halls, recreational and exhibition facilities will be situated on the ground, while a few dining and drinking areas will be situated underwater.

The quarry was acquired by Shimao Property way back in 2006. The company planned to turn it into a theme park and the hotel with water will serve as its main theme. All floors will reportedly be connected with a glass atrium and a cascading stream flowing down the cliff's edge. The hotel's curved forepart will display a significant panoramic sight of the resort.

TagsShanghai, Depp Pit Hotel, Shimao Wonderland Intercontinental, Shanghai Shimao Property Group, Tianma Hotel, Songjian