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World First Underground Hotel

China’s newest hotel is in the pits — literally. The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, which is built into the side of a formerly abandoned quarry and is considered the world’s first underground hotel, opened today about 20 miles southwest of Shanghai.

The top floor of the hotel is located at ground level with a roof covered in greenery, while 16 floors of the hotel are located below ground. Another two floors are submerged inside a 33-foot-deep aquarium.

Aside from the underwater rooms, every room in the hotel features a balcony with views of a glass-enclosed, artificial waterfall spilling down the quarry walls. The underground levels also feature a restaurant, guest rooms, an aquarium, pool and watersports center.

The hotel is also taking advantage of its location inside a craggy, 288-feet deep pit and is providing bungee-jumping and rock-climbing attractions to thrill-seeking visitors.

The hotel took 10 years to complete, with total cost exceeding 1 billion yuan ($151 million), according to a report in China Daily last year.

he hotel was designed with eco-friendly principles and generates its own power, heating and lighting through the use of geothermal and solar energy.

Rooms start from 4,000 Chinese yuan (around $576) on some online booking sites.