Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby review: A £200m upside-down hotel with laser dragons? That’s Wonderland!

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As a seasoned globetrotter with over three decades of traversing the globe under my belt, I must say that the Wonderland hotel in Shanghai is nothing short of breathtakingly extraordinary! The architectural marvel, suspended on a cliffside and designed by the brilliant Martin Jockman, has left me utterly spellbound.

greetings to everyone from our Chinese audience, I am affectionately known as Yin, though Mr Television Addict or Dianshi Yin Junzi Xiansheng is my formal name. Just like the staff at the Wonderland hotel in Shanghai who use English names to cater to their Western guests, feel free to call me Yin when we interact.

Upon booking their luxurious suites, priced at approximately £2,000 per night, you’ll receive a warm welcome from staff members named Richard, Sandy, Sarah, Avril, and Dennis.

It’s not common for you to take a weekend getaway at Wonderland, as about 90% of its 200,000 yearly visitors are Chinese.

The hotel itself is not in central Shanghai but in the suburb of Songjiang, home to a mere two million people — a small town in Chinese terms. 

Remarkable Hotels: Experiencing Life Beyond the Lobby shines brightest when hosts Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder guide us to destinations that aren’t just out of our budget range, but beyond our wildest imaginations.

In this travel show, they will visit several unique accommodations: a Himalayan lodge situated with a view of a Buddhist monastery, a hotel nestled inside a historical network of Turkish caves, and a Malaysian rainforest spa resort.

But none is more extraordinary than the Wonderland, hanging off the side of a cliff in what appears to be a meteorite crater but is actually a former quarry, 100 yards deep. 

The main entryway is located at the upper level, while the priciest rooms are found on the lowest floor – a design that presented Rob with a chance to demonstrate his ability to balance on his hands, or in other words, stand upside-down.

It’s clear that skill was crucial for him in his past profession as a barrister. The hotel, designed by Martin Jockman, a British architect, was conceptualized about 20 years ago. Construction on it lasted over a decade and the total expense exceeded £200 million.

As a devoted follower, I found myself standing in the lobby, where Richard, the enthusiastic general manager, warmly welcomed Monica and me. With a sparkle in his eye, he assured us that we were about to witness sights so extraordinary, they would leave us utterly amazed.

Initially, there was a light spectacle where lasers were displayed on a circular veil of mist, but it seemed ordinary compared to the grand nighttime display of lights – a dynamic scene depicting dragons and legendary figures that adorned the massive cliff walls of the quarry.

Up above, numerous radiant drones harmoniously moved together, while the balcony suites shimmered as spectators appeared to admire the performance.

The sides of the grand glass elevator sparkled with cascading neon lights, resembling a Swarovski crystal-made vein. This was truly one-of-a-kind.

The flaw in the show lies in its assumption that the hosts aren’t regular guests but short-term trainees, taking on various roles such as cleaners, waitstaff, or receptionists during their travels. Regardless of where they go, these roles remain fundamentally similar.

Monica’s culinary background added intrigue to the kitchen scene, as she skillfully transformed tofu into resemblances of hair with a meat cleaver. However, Rob didn’t need a flight to Shanghai to work as a waiter; options like Shanklin or Shepton Mallet were viable alternatives.

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2024-09-13 02:34