Luxury Hotel Built In Former Pit Mine To Open In China

SHANGHAI (AP) — A luxury hotel opening outside Shanghai is offering guests with deep pockets the chance of a very deep sleep.

The 18-story Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland Hotel has been built into the side of a huge hole in the ground left by a former pit mine. Sixteen of its floors are below ground level, looking out onto the rest of the former quarry. Two floors are underwater.

“I designed many different types of buildings in U.K., in Europe, in Dubai, and so on but this one was totally different and became almost life work, so that’s why I’m saying it’s probably the most important building that I have designed,” said chief architect Martin Jochman, who is known for the sail-shaped Burj Al-Arab skyscraper in Dubai.

The project began in 2006 and construction got underway in 2013. The team faced delays and a host of technical challenges, including meeting strict earthquake regulations and maintaining water levels.

UNESCO representative Michael Croft described the 336-room hotel as a model for sustainable development.

“It’s a model that has been inspired by a vision of a better future, and a present that looks to its past for answers,” he said at a news conference introducing the hotel Thursday.

The hotel, which is in Songjiang near Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, opens Tuesday. Rooms are priced from 3,666 to 6,000 yuan ($530 to $860).

“We could have abandoned this quarry,” said Xu Shitan, vice chairman of Hong Kong property developer Shimao Group, which developed the hotel. “But we didn’t. We turned it into a treasure.”

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This Nov. 13, 2018, aerial photo and released on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2018 by Xinhua News Agency, shows the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland Hotel in Songjiang district of Shanghai, east China. The 18-story hotel has been built into the side of a huge hole in the ground left b

Everything You Need To Know About Traveling To Shanghai Disneyland

Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

It turns out all the hype that's surrounded Shanghai Disneyland since it broke ground five years ago was well-founded: the park is gorgeous and packed with exclusive attractions, like a pirate-themed "land" called treasure cove and Little Mermaid-themed pools. It's all more than enough to convince even casual Disney fans to hop on a 13-hour flight. 

But before you pack your bag or planning your meet-and-greets, read on what you need to know before heading to Shanghai's new Disney park:

Before you leave:

First things first: obtain a visa.

If you’re an American citizen, you’ll need a recent passport as well as a Chinese Visa, which costs around $140. It is recommended to apply for your Visa about a month before you leave, but Chinese consulates are not available in every city, so it’s best to get everything prepared well in advance of submission.

Preload your phone with necessary apps and prepare for limited communication.

Websites like Twitter, Facebook, and Google, as well as Gmail, are blocked within mainland China. You can bypass the firewall, but it requires setting up a VPN for both your phone and requisite websites, which is cumbersome but inexpensive. Ordering a Chinese SIM card in advance for your phone (if your device meets the requirements) is helpful, as is obtaining a mobile WiFi device if it does not. You can also handle this at the airport, but it may be more costly and time-consuming. Sign yourself and family members at home up on WeChat in advance, too, which offers free multimedia messaging while abroad.

Pack absolutely everything you may need.

The resort is located in an industrial area, and medicine, amenities, and other must-haves will not be readily available. There are a few makeup and beauty stores in Disneytown, but no drugstores, so make sure all your necessities are in your suitcase.

If you have dietary restrictions or picky eaters, bring breakfast snacks.

Disney is always incredibly accommodating for any kind of food allergy or restriction, but only a small fraction of the food at Shanghai Disneyland is Western. There are familiar foods for lunch and dinner, sure, but breakfast can prove to be the most challenging for anyone on a specified diet. Pack small snacks and granola bars to have on hand, especially if you have little ones who won’t take kindly to the food, and keep a stash back at the room for late-night eats once the hotel cafes close.

Stay On-Property

If you’re visiting Shanghai Disneyland for more than one day, which you should, stay on-property. The cost for Toy Story Hotel and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel are much less thanstateside hotels, but both are remarkably nice.

Bookend Your Trip

If you want to experience the rest of Shanghai as well, make sure Shanghai Disneyland is a bookend of your trip and not in the middle. The airport is much closer to Disneyland than it is to the heart of the city, making it convenient for arriving or departing flights.

Once you arrive:

If you’re heading to Disneyland straight from the airport, have the address of your resort, in Mandarin, printed out on paper.

Because the park is so new, taxi drivers may not know exactly where it is by name. Be sure to have local currency for the fare, and, upon landing, tuck the kept half of the immigration form you receive on the plane into your passport holder—and don’t lose it! You’ll need it when you come back through prior to boarding your return flight.

When visiting the parks, keep an ID on you at all times.

Shanghai Disneyland tickets are non-transferrable, and though it’s in the fine print, proof of identity may be required for entry.

If you’re making a day trip from Shanghai, take a train instead of a taxi.

It is a lengthy journey most cabs will not want to or know how to make. Disneyland is far from Shanghai’s city center—over an hour by train, with a short walk to the gate—but convenient, as “Disney Resort” is the final stop on Line 11. Try to avoid rush hour, which can be quite hectic, and download the Explore Shanghai Metro app in advance, which offers easy directions in English throughout the system.

Leave enough time to get home from the parks.

Be sure to stay informed about evening train schedules, and if you're staying off-property, buy a round-trip ticket from the get-go. Ticket sales stop at a certain time, for which there is even an overhead announcement reminding guests to do just this.

Jet-lagged? Coffee is easy to find, if you know where to look.

Unlike stateside parks, there’s no proper Starbucks inside the gates, but there is a massive one hiding to the side of World of Disney within Disneytown. (If you’re approaching from the Steamboat Mickey fountain, as most do, keep walking with the store on your right.) The hotels makes a mean cappuccino as well; you can find your caffeine fix at Toy Story Hotel’s Sunnyside Market or Ballet Café within Shanghai Disneyland Hotel.

Shop at every single store you find.

Different items are carried at each hotel, in Disneytown and within the parks, and you’ll want to spot them all. Be sure to visit Lotso Shop for Buzz Lightyear bobbleheads, Tinker Bell Gifts for princess-themed jewelry, Trend-D for feminine Disney-themed purses and Whistle Stop Shop for monogrammed ears.

You’ll want to spend at least one afternoon—or meal—within Disneytown.

The dining options available are vast, and all are incredibly high-quality, providing some of the best food throughout Shanghai Disneyland property. There are the regular shopping and photo ops—Lego’s first Asia boutique is here, naturally—and even an all-Mandarin production of The Lion King, which is beautiful, despite being lost in translation.

But there’s a whole section of Disneytown that’s very easy to miss.

It’s called Lakeshore, and it’s separate from the main strip next to park gates, hanging out over Wishing Star Park’s massive body of water. It contains The BOATHOUSE, one of Florida’s new signature restaurant, as well as a few shoe stores, toy shops and a Korean beauty outpost.

Be more patient than usual.  

Even though it’s Disney, and experiences at other foreign parks may be different, don’t expect all of Shanghai Disneyland Resort to be English-friendly, as on average, only one of every three staff members speak the language. Buses on-property can be a bit tricky to navigate, so make sure you’re in the right line, in the right place, whenever you’re unsure.

Upon your departure:

Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the airport.

The language barrier at the Pudong Airport can be immense, and some flights booked through partner airlines will not allow guests to fully check-in online, so plan to leave about four hours before your international flight. Double check your terminal before you depart the hotel, and check in advance about taxis, which may not be as readily available as they are in the city center.

Flying elsewhere within China before you go home?

Be prepared to wait. It’s common knowledge that flights within the country frequently run behind schedule.

Be aware of China Eastern Airline’s idiosyncrasies.

It’s the most popular airline within China, but can provide for a much different experience than American companies. Phones cannot be used in airplane mode at all throughout the duration of the flight, as is the case with portable batteries, and requested seats through their stateside partner, Delta, were not honored upon check-in. Despite already having been through security, my flight also required all water bottles to be emptied out prior to boarding. There were multiple meals offered, and the in-flight entertainment provided plenty of English language selections, but the differences are noteworthy for American travelers.

by Carlye Wisel, www.travelandleasure.com

The Best Layover Cities In The World From Travel Experts

If you are trying to find the best flight deal on your travels, chances are more than once you’ve had to pick which city you want to spend a long, 6+ hour layover in. But instead of seeing it as an annoyance and hassle, why not make the layover an extended part of your journey by discovering the best layover cities in the world?

When I returned from Budapest to LA this May I spent six hours in Oslo, Norway. A 19-minute express train from the airport to the city center meant I could zip to Oslo, take in a few sights, have a meal, and get back with more than enough time for my second flight to LA.

Oslo Waterfront – Photo by Moyan Brenn via Flickr (since I had no camera in Oslo)

I loved this little excursion and wanted to start doing something similar on all my other trips as well. The only problem was, for many cities offered as layover options, I didn’t know how easy it would be. Did the airport have a good range of amenities? Quick and easy transport into the city center? Was the center easily walkable?

So I asked my favorite travel bloggers, writers, and photographers, which cities in the world they love to spend their time between flights in. Now next time you fly, you will know which are the best layover cities to add to your journey (a couple of East Asian airports especially seem preferred among travelers worldwide).

Best Layover Cities

1. Hong Kong International Airport (2x Choice!):

Ken Kaminesky (Ken Kaminesky Photography)

Inside Hong Kong International Airport – Photo by IQRemix via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

My favourite city for a layover is Hong Kong. The airport is one of the best in the world but what makes it special is the Cathay Pacific lounge! I always fly with Cathay Pacific to Asia if possible and their lounge at Hong Kong International Airport is the best I’ve ever seen. Showers, good food, complimentary massages, and more. Just what a weary traveller like me needs after a super long haul flight. I’m blessed to live a life well-travelled and grateful that there are companies like Cathay that value their customers to such a high degree. In fact, I’m heading to Cambodia tomorrow and thrilled to be stopping in Hong Kong for my layover on the way to Siem Reap.

Michael Hodson (Go See Write)

I tend to complain a lot about airports and layovers. There are, however, many airports that do everything they can to make your layover more comfortable and enjoyable. The best experience I had was in Hong Kong International Airport. If education is your thing and you want to stimulate your brain more than you want to get a hand massage, then you’ll really enjoy this airport. There’s shopping and dining, as usual, but there are also a lot of really interesting exhibits to experience and enjoy.

2. Singapore Changi Airport (2x Choice!):

Barbara Weibel (Hole in the Donut Cultural Travel)

Photo by Cheryl via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

Without a doubt, Singapore Changi Airport ranks as my favorite airport in the world for long layovers.

This airport is more like a destination than a transit hub. It provides free Wi-Fi, has an almost overwhelming array of dining choices, and even offers massage and reflexology services. Skytrains whisk passengers between terminals to view sculptures scattered throughout the airport and gardens that feature cactus, sunflowers, and orchids. Travelers with layovers of more than six hours can even take advantage of a free Singapore tour.

Kristin Addis (Be My Travel Muse)

It has fast, free Wi-Fi, a movie theater, and even a free tour of the city if your layover is a long one. It’s easily the best airport in the works for layovers!

3. Dubai International Airport: Liz Carlson (Young Adventuress)

Dubai at Night – Photo by Kemal Kestelli via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

My favorite city for layovers is Dubai. Usually I stop there on trips between New Zealand where I live, and Europe. Since it’s such a long journey and I hate to do back to back long haul flights, I try to stop there for a day or two to rest. Dubai is a city for comfort so I don’t feel pressure to go out and about and explore, but rather to relax in the nice hotels with spas and just chill, which is exactly what I need between trips. Also I usually do all of my shopping there for gear and clothes that I can’t find anywhere else. Dubai is perfect for stopovers and a place to indulge.

4. Keflavík International Airport, Reykjavik: Stephanie Yoder (Twenty-Something Travel)

Photo by Marco Bellucci via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

Keflavík is a really nice, safe, and clean airport where you can safely hang out for hours. It is kind of boring though, so I recommend taking a bus to the famous Blue Lagoon, a milky colored hot spring set against a barren moon-like landscape. Within the span of just a few hours you can visit one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions and get back in time for your flight!

5. Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport: Gary Arndt (Everything, Everywhere)

Downtown Minneapolis – Photo by m01229 via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

Minneapolis. MSP is, in my opinion, the best airport in North America. It has great restaurants and many options. If you have a really long layover, you can also take a light rail train from the airport to the nearby Mall of America, which is less than 10 minutes away.

6. Istanbul Atatürk Airport: Earl Baron (Wandering Earl)

Photo by Moyan Brenn via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

With either a 45 minute shuttle ride to Taksim Square or 45 minutes on the metro/tram to reach Sultanahmet, you have excellent food, fascinating sights, interesting neighborhoods and markets, shisha cafes, shops, museums, bars and more are all right there, ready to fill up the hours you have between flights.

7. Prague, Václav Havel Airport: Ivana & Gianni (Nomad is Beautiful)

Photo by Moyan Brenn via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

You get from the airport to the heart of the city in half an hour easily by bus and metro. Even if it’ll be difficult to avoid crowds in the very center of Prague, especially if you visit it only for a few hours, it’s definitely worth to roam in the gardens near Petrin, in Letna park, Prague’s Castle and the Lesser Town district.  

8. Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport: Melvin Boecher (TravelDudes)

Photo by Greg Knapp via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

My favorite layover city is Bangkok, as that city just gets you. Usually travelers who come here first enjoy their stay a lot, but also don’t mind to leave again after 2-3 days. The city is full of culture, friendly people and yummy food. But it also provides lots of traffic, smog and some scams. So a few days gives you a great first feeling for the city and then you can head on to your next destination. This could be in Thailand itself, in the surrounding countries or even further away, as Bangkok has good flight connections all over the world. And my experience is, the more often you visit and explore Bangkok, the more you will fall in love with the city and could stay a complete holiday alone in the “City of Angels”.

9. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol: Spencer Spellman (Whiskey Tango Globetrot)

Photo by Moyan Brenn via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

The reason I love layovers in Amsterdam is two-fold. One is that theoretically, you could be into the heart of Amsterdam in 20-30 minutes from the airport, since the core of Amsterdam is less than 10 miles from the airport (rare for most cities). However, additionally, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of my favorite airports. You’ve got a couple of different spas, a museum, casino, and a number of great bars and restaurants, such as East Bar & Bites, which I particularly like for their sake cocktail menu.

10. London Heathrow Airport: Ayngelina Brogan (Bacon is Magic)

There is so much to see, do and eat. There are great airport lounges and spa services but I also love shopping at Boots so I’m happy to stopover and spend an hour browsing around. But most of all I like Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant Plane Food, it’s a great dining room and very reasonably priced.

11. Shanghai Pudong International Airport: Laurence Norah (Finding the Universe)

Photo by hans-johnson via Flickr/CC BY 4.0

The city is very easy to get to from the airport, and in fact the mode of transport is one of my favorite things – it’s the fastest train in the world. Then the city itself is very easy to explore, you can sight see for as long or as short as you like, and if you get tired  there is no shortage of tea houses to relax in!

Layover Tips & Lessons

With layovers, ALWAYS make sure to watch the clock, as Dan & Audrey (Uncornered Market) warn:

Layover in Barcelona. Can’t check-in for 3 hours. What to do? Head into town, hit the streets, and have a tapas-filled lunch of roulette peppers (every 100th one is hot!), fried artichokes and a bevy of local fish. Then soak up the streets and color, hop the bus back to the airport and hope they’re ready to take you to your destination — which on our last stop there was Bogota, Colombia.

We had about 6 hours. We arrived at terminal T2, but were departing from T1. So we took the shuttle there to leave luggage and get a lay of the land. Glad we did, because that removed an unknown. Took the bus into town. Had a couple of hours. We focused on lunch and walking neighborhoods, including Ribera. When we returned by bus, we were just under 3 hours from our flight departure. We’d already checked in online, so removed that variable. After security, we ended up at our gate with 1hr, 40 mins. Audrey even tried to get a manicure at the lounge, but time was tight and staff bounce between lounges. Outside of that, we found our gate area sparse, so we’re glad we popped into downtown Barcelona.

And keep an eye out for Layover Perks: Alyssa Ramos (My Life’s a Movie)

When I think of making the best out of long layovers, I always suggest finding flights with the longest layover (if a long layover is inevitable) so that you can possibly go see a little bit of the city. I did that during my flight to South Africa with a layover in Dubai. I chose the longest layover which was 8 hours (it also made the flight cheaper), and the airline even gave us a free hotel to shower and relax in while we waited!

What’s your favorite layover city? Have you ever had a great layover experience? Share below!

photos by: & , , , , , Moyan_Brenn 

Source: http://www.losethemap.com/