Singapore's New Jewel Complex Is A Must-Visit

Singapore’s new Jewel complex embodies the city-state’s mission to reinvent itself as a show-stopping destination for leisure as well as business

- Tom Otley

Even the smallest of waterfalls is captivating, but when that waterfall is 40 metres high, and inside an airport shopping centre, it’s doubly so. Throw in a dash of jet lag from the flight you’ve just stepped off, and it borders on the surreal.

Go up through the levels of the Jewel and you can watch the initial cascade of the water as it is funnelled through the striking glass roof. Further down, double-height strengthened glass channels the water in the final part of its descent. Here, shoppers stare in wonder, hands pressed against the glass, smiling for pictures. At night, a light and sound show is held every half-hour for about five minutes, drawing the crowds back to look at it all over again.

It’s quite a first impression of Singapore, but, then, it’s the embodiment of how the city-state has transformed itself in recent years and is continuing to challenge its reputation for being staid. Perhaps it was the opening of Gardens by the Bay that started the process in 2012, or even earlier when the Marina Bay Sands complex launched in 2010, but Singapore is seeing more visitors than ever before – 18.5 million last year, up from 11.6 million in 2010.

MULTI-FACTED

By now, most of us have heard about the Jewel Changi airport. Opened in April, the spectacular mixed-use complex landside at Singapore Changi covers a total floor area of 135,700 sqm. It contains a large indoor garden, recreation space, airport facilities, a 130-room Yotelair, and a huge number of retail, food and drink outlets.