The hotel has number of names: which have been used - originally we called the concept ’The Hanging Gardens Hotel’ and it was also called ‘The Waterworld’.

Bristol-based Martin Jochman, who led the design team Atkins, says, “We drew our inspiration from the quarry setting itself, adopting the image of a green hill cascading down the natural rock face as a series of terraced landscaped hanging gardens. In the centre, we have created a transparent glass ‘waterfall’ from a central vertical circulation atrium connecting the quarry base with the ground level. This replicates the natural waterfalls on the existing quarry face.”

The innovative design of the 400-bed resort hotel stands two levels higher than the rock face of the 100 metre deep quarry and includes underwater public areas and guestrooms. It will incorporate conference facilities for up to 1,000 people, a banqueting centre, restaurants, cafés and sports facilities. Sustainability is integral to the design ranging from using green roofing for the structures above the ground level to geothermal energy extraction.

The hotel will be built in an abandoned quarry beside Tianma Hill, which is about 10 kilometer away from Sheshan Hill, the Youth Daily reported today. Currently, there is a lake in the bottom of the quarry pit.

Expected to be open to the public by the end of 2010, the hotel will have more than 400 rooms. But all the rooms will be above the lake water level. It will be set up spa rooms, restaurants, and other entertainment facilities on the 18th underground floor while the 19th underground floor will be home to offices and luxury suites.