Luxury hotel Shanghai Wonderland opens

SHANGHAI Wonderland is a luxury hotel masterfully built into the side wall of a formerly abandoned quarry in Southwestern Shanghai. Stretching 88 metres underground, the hotel was nominated as one of the architectural wonders of the world by the National Geographic Channel’s MegaStructures series due to its pioneering architectural design.

The new-build InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland combines the brand’s signature luxury with revolutionary design at a wonderfully unique location, creating an unprecedented experience. Located at Sheshan Mountain Range, this new hotel is mostly subterranean, with two floors above ground and 16 below ground, including two floors underwater. 

Individually designed to best reflect both modern elegance and the unique features of the quarry’s landscape, all 336 rooms and suites provide ample, luxury living spaces with spectacular views of waterfalls and the surrounding cliffs. 

The stunning underwater loft offers two awe-inspiring levels: the landing deck at water level houses the outdoor terrace and living room, whilst the underwater bedrooms are encased within a turquoise aquarium where guests will be surrounded by the schools of fish that swim by.

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On the water . . .

STAR Cruises, The Most Popular Cruise Line in Asia, was honoured with the Best Itinerary Award during the Shanghai Cruise Tourism Festival organized by the Shanghai Baoshan Government on 23 September 2017.

This award was in recognition of Star Cruises’ innovative 8D7N “Golden Sea Route” itinerary to Japan departing from Shanghai to the Japanese ports of Osaka and Tokyo with additional ports of call to take in the natural wonders of Mount Fuji and Kagoshima.

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Norwegian Cruise Line's first purpose-built ship for the Chinese market

NORWEGIAN Joy, soon to be Norwegian Cruise Line's first cruise ship custom designed for China has been floated out in Papenburg, Germany.  The 3,850 passenger vessel has very distinctive hull artwork designed by Chinese artist Tan Ping.

Arriving in Summer 2017 with home ports in Shanghai and Beijing (Tianjin), Norwegian Joy will be Norwegian Cruise Line's first purpose-built ship for the Chinese market and designed to deliver on the promise that guests will enjoy 'First Class at Sea’ experiences.

Norwegian Joy will offer engaging and innovative activities including a first at sea two-level competitive racetrack, an open-air laser tag course, thrilling simulator rides and interactive video walls at the Galaxy Pavilion as well as hover craft bumper cars, a state-of-the-art racing simulator and two multi-story waterslides. In addition, Norwegian Joy will house a tranquil open space park as well as the line's largest upscale shopping district, complete with everything from exceptional duty-free shops to world-renowned global luxury brands.

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Underwater Adventure

DUE to open in 2017 the 5-star #ShimaoWonderland Intercontinental Hotel is being built in an abandoned quarry located in the Sheshan National Tourism Resort area of Songjiang near Shanghai, #China.

The 328 guestroom 5 star hotel is located in a deep water filled quarry with 2 levels of the hotel above and 16 levels below ground level.

The 2 lowest levels will be under water with one level utilised as guest rooms and public areas such as restaurants, facing underwater aquarium and the other for mechanical plant rooms.

The hotel will also feature a conference/ballroom centre and extensive leisure facilities with swimming pools on the quarry bottom water level. The hotel also features a spectacular 'glass waterfall' structure to house the vertical circulation core with observation lifts.

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50 killed in Orlando terror attack

FIFTY people were murdered and a further 53 were injured in a #shooting in a gay nightclub in #Orlando. A state emergency has been declared in Florida.

The gunman, named as Omar Mateen, was killed by police after taking hostages at the Pulse club.

The attack – the worst mass shooting in recent US history – is believed to be ideologically motivated, although though there was no information that the gunman was associated with a particular terrorist group. NBC News has reported that Mateen called the emergency services before the attack and swore allegiance to the so-called Islamic State group. The group later said that an IS "fighter" had carried out the attack.

The suspect, who was a US citizen from the Florida town of Port St Lucie and was of Afghan descent, was not on a terrorism watch list. But officials revealed that the FBI had interviewed Mateen on three occasions in 2013-14 after he made ‘inflammatory remarks’ to a colleague. The investigation was closed.

Shanghai Airport bombing

FOUR people were injured when a man set off a homemade explosive device at Shanghai Airport on Sunday.

The attacker threw a bottle of explosives near a check-in counter in Terminal Two, and then stabbed himself in the neck.

The four victims suffered light wounds and are being treated in hospital, while the attacker is said to be in a critical condition.

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Disney park launches etiquette guide for visitors

#SHANGHAI #DISNEYLAND has published an etiquette guide aimed at encouraging 'civilized behaviour' by visitors. The good behaviour guide is in response to what officials called 'uncouth' activities during the soft launch earlier this year. 

The guide cautions tourists not to throw trash, be rowdy, vanadalize property, damage the landscaping, or jump queues. It also asks visitors not to 'lie down on the ground’.

Shanghai Disneyland opens in mid-June and features six themed areas including Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.

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Picture Credit: Ears</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin

Spring into these top cities

SPRING guides to Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul, London, Moscow, New York, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Sydney, and Tokyo are available now at www.seasonalcities.com.

The guides, written by resident travel journalists and updated every season, are an insider's edit of top fives (sights, events, shops, restaurants, bars and clubs, and hotels), and they provide three-day weather forecasts for each of the cities. 

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Picture Credit: Cherry Blossom in Paris</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin

World’s biggest Disney park to open in Shanghai

THE planet’s largest #DisneyResort will open in #Shanghai in June.

‘The Shanghai Disney resort will be a one-of-a-kind, world-class destination that is authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese,’ says Robert Iger, chairman & CEO of The Walt Disney Company. ‘The resort reflects Disney's legendary storytelling along with China's rich culture, and showcases some of the most creative and innovative experiences we've ever created.’

The resort will feature six themed lands (Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove, and Fantasyland) around Disney's trademark Enchanted Storybook Castle, which will be the largest and tallest of any Disney theme park.

Initially, there will be two hotels, while a shopping, dining, and entertainment district will be located next to the park's entrance.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74776159@N00/5321305295">The Oriental Pearl Tower</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)