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Jun 02, 2024

5 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Singapore Changi Airport's Wondrous 'Jewel' Complex

The complex first opened in 2019. While Singapore's Changi International Airport remains one of Asia's most significant air transportation hubs that passengers often love for its unique facilities,

The complex first opened in 2019.

While Singapore's Changi International Airport remains one of Asia's most significant air transportation hubs that passengers often love for its unique facilities, the unwavering adoration from passengers has primarily shifted to a popular and rather ground-breaking tourist attraction located within the airport site.

Since its opening four years ago, the nature-themed entertainment and retail complex known as Jewel Changi Airport has consistently been raved about by locals, travelers, and even airline crews - and is (or should be) on anyone's itinerary when visiting Singapore. Although the manmade marvel has already been widely discussed in various publications, here are five fun facts about Jewel.

The 40-meter-tall HSBC Rain Vortex officiated as the world's tallest indoor waterfall, is often seen as the sparkling highlight of Jewel. The waterfall's design was inspired by Singapore's tropical rains, adding novelty and wonder to the aimed multi-sensory experience for visitors to Jewel. While being a significantly eye-catching centerpiece attraction, visitors can bask in its full glory at numerous vantage points.

But why is it specifically called the HSBC Rain Vortex? According to the Changi Airport Group - the majority shareholder of Jewel, with a 51% stake, secured HSBC, the global banking and financial services organization, as a naming rights partner, and this sponsorship will run for five years. This means the HSBC Rain Vortex will retain its name for at least another year, when either the contract will be renewed or another firm will acquire naming rights.

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Jewel stays true to its naturistic theme with over 2,000 different trees and palms and more than 100,000 shrubs spanning approximately 21,000 square meters. Most of this greenery is typically found in the Shiseido Forest Valley - Jewel's iconic indoor forest sanctuary, and similar to the HSBC Rain Vortex, the attraction saw Jewel obtaining naming rights from the renowned Japanese global beauty company.

The naming rights were renewed in September last year for an additional three years until April 2025. In an expression of extended relations, planting a first-of-its-kind species, a Garcinia subelliptica, also known as a "Happiness Tree," was done symbolically at Jewel to imbue Shiseido's founding belief that beauty inspires hope and empowers all.

While the idea of the Pokémon Center might not sound like much besides being a one-stop shop for everything related to Pokémon, it might still be intriguing to note that the one in Jewel is the first to open in Asia outside of Japan. However, this plan wasn't straightforward; when the Pokémon Company wished to open a permanent Pokémon Center in Singapore, it tried finding a local Singaporean retailer to operate the store.

Discussions with the chosen local retailer soon fell apart due to differing ideas, but the Pokémon Company was determined to ensure a Pokémon Center Singapore. Then, in 2018, the company opened an official subsidiary in the city-state, which was yet again the first wholly-owned Pokémon subsidiary in Southeast Asia, and this company would operate the Pokémon Center Singapore. There are plenty of firsts, indeed.

Although Jewel boasts an incredible cinema and the HSBC Rain Vortex for entertainment, there's plenty more at the Canopy Park at the topmost level of the complex. Think of a mini fun fair within a glass dome. Admission to this 14,000 square meters vast play area requires a paid ticket, and there are plenty of activities like the Canopy Bridge - an eight-meter-long suspended platform offering the best views of the HSBC Rain Vortex.

There's also the Mirror Maze for those seeking to get lost or tricked seeing double or triple and the Sky Nets for those who wish to get a bit of cardio in. If these attractions aren't enough to tire anyone out to make their money worth it, the Discovery Slides and Foggy Bowls are the final two attractions to complete the whole Canopy Park experience.

As for the final fun fact about Jewel Changi Airport, it's likely the most crucial point - especially for visitors who have yet to experience and have this glass dome on their Singapore itinerary. Jewel is entirely on the landside and is not accessible through or from the airside. This means that once a passenger has cleared departure immigration, there's no checking out Jewel with the spare time.

In other words, either set a whole day or many hours before your scheduled departure to experience Jewel and what it offers. The only 'access' airside passengers have to Jewel is if they board the transit sky trains from Terminal 3 Station B to Terminal 2 Station E and vice versa. This route passes through Jewel, allowing airside passengers a splendid view of the HSBC Rain Vortex and Shiseido Forest Valley.

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Journalist - Fascinated by aircraft since young, Charlotte’s dream was to work alongside them. Recently graduated with her degree in Aviation Business Administration and a minor in Air Traffic Management, she hopes to better contribute to the industry soon. Based in Singapore.