The Sheshan underground hotel holds a Christmas tree lighting ceremony featuring a 20-meter-tall Christmas tree as well as a light and water show. [Photo/WeChat account: sheshanlvyoutopnews]

 

The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, a luxury hotel in the Shanghai Sheshan National Tourist Resort, held a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Nov 26.

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which originated in northern Europe, usually begins in the month before the New Year and marks the beginning of Christmas season.

The ceremony started with a welcome speech by Paul Hugentobler, general manager of the hotel.

After an exciting counting down, a sparkling 20-meter-tall Christmas tree was lit up in the deepest part of the hotel, which lies 88 meters underground. After the tree was lit, a children choir's Christmas singing performance was held.

A light and water show combining artistic sensibilities with advanced technology was also held during the ceremony, much to the delight of guests.

The hotel is the world's first underground hotel to be built on the site of an abandoned quarry and was listed as an architectural wonder of the world by the National Geographic Channel.

The opening of the ceremony also announced an upcoming series of holiday sales events at hotel for guests to celebrate Christmas. Starting from Dec 1, the hotline 021-6766 1888 will begin taking queries about the events.

The hotel is now covered in Christmas decorations. [Photo/WeChat account: sheshanlvyoutopnews]

The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is the world's first underground hotel built on the site of an abandoned quarry. [Photo/WeChat account: sheshanlvyoutopnews]