changi airport – Bekpackr – A Filipino in Singapore

Best Place to Wait: Jewel Changi Airport

Opening Week: Photos from Jewel Changi Airport

The Jewel is open! Changi Airport’s much-anticipated new feature opened to the public on April 17, 2019, after a massive preview the week before (photos, also here). The renders and teasers looked spectacular. But up close, it exceeded expectations. It’s bigger than I thought!

Jewel Changi Airport in daylight. It’s a monument that houses a reta

Designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the S$1.7B mixed-used development really is Changi Airport’s crown jewel. Inside the tallest indoor waterfall in the world called the ‘HSBC Rain Vortex’ which itself is the centerpiece of the Shiseido Forest Valley. It’s a fitting tribute to Singapore’s image as a ‘city in a garden’.

There’s an IMAX theatre, a hotel, and over 300 retail and dining options inside this massive space. I’m most excited about the forest valley, canopy park, and its unique offerings like an A&W (returning to Singapore from 2019), Shake Shack, and Pokemon Centre.

I guess it’s funny for other people to wonder what’s the big deal with seeing another QB House, Starbucks, or Cotton On opening. But if you can do it to this scale and make it a unique shopping experience each time? Wow. Great job, Changi Airport!

Shiseido Forest Valley and Canopy Walk

The HSBC Rain Vortex has a night show.

A line of trees in Jewel Changi Airport’s Canopy Park.

I love how they keep the lighting dim in the evening.

The ceiling reflecting in the pool of water.

I think it’s a good place for a date. If you don’t mind the crowds.

The indoor waterfall is the highlight of this spectacular space.

Animal topiaries in the Canopy Park.

Let’s pay attention to the seats in the Canopy Park as well.

It wouldn’t be Singapore without the floral spaces.

The crowds during opening week at Jewel Changi Airport.

One of the exclusive areas for VIP guests at Jewel Changi.

Retail and Dining

The Pokemon Centre. The first permanent Pokemon store in Asia outside of Japan.

I’ll come back after the opening week crowds dissipate!

Get your chili crab fix at Jumbo Seafood.

Duplex-style stores include Shake Shack.

Another duplex-style store is Nike. This is the largest Nike store in Southeast Asia.

QB House Kids

The design is very open. From top levels to the basement.

At different parts of the perimeter you can take a peek at the rain vortex.

Tokyu Hands occupies one of the duplex spaces too.

This is a Starbucks Reserve store occupying one of the duplex slots at Jewel Changi Airport.

Also in a duplex is the Muji store in Jewel Changi Airport.

Go to Tim Ho Wan for your baked bun with pork BBQ.

I associate Bengawan Solo with SGH. But this one feels like a TWG Tea cafe.

It’s nice to see Singapore brands occupy a whole stretch of Jewel Changi Airport.

Gift stores selling new Jewel Changi Airport are also available.

The Changi Airport brand appears in all sorts of media. Like this piece of literature for kids.

A&W at Jewel Changi Airport. This is located in the basement area.

Tong Garden has a store. I associate this with the cheaper peanuts you can buy at Sheng Shiong.

Philippine snack brand Potato Corner which is expanding in Singapore also has a store at Jewel Changi Airport.

There’s also an IMAX brought to Jewel Changi Airport by Shaw Theatres.

How to get to Jewel Changi Airport?

Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 is connected directly to Jewel from the basement level (Arrivals). You can also cross the street at the drop-off level in depatures.

There’s an air-conditioned elevated walkway connecting into Jewel if you are originating from Terminal 2 and 3. If you are coming from Terminal 4, take a bus to Terminal 2 and then take the walkway into Jewel.

Despite how massive the offering is at Jewel, Changi Airport MRT station does not connect to it directly. You’ll have to follow the signs and head up into Terminals 2 or 3 and then take the walkway. Alternatively, you can take a skytrain to Terminal 1 and walk into Jewel.

Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 opens October 31, 2017! They built it in under three years. It’s situated where the old Budget Terminal used to be. Terminal 4 or T4 is not connected to Terminals 1 to 3 via the Skytrain service. But shuttles will be provided.

If the video won’t play, you can click to see it on YouTube here.

The open house was a wonderful opportunity to check out the Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) feature. These include the self check-in (already available at the other terminals), automated Bag-Drop and Boarding Gates with facial recognition technology, and new centralised screening areas.

It is a sparkling new compact terminal that will service budget carriers like AirAsia and Cebu Pacific. It will also cater to Cathay Pacific and Korean Air. Changi Airport is Skytrax World’s Best Airport for five consecutive years. Business Insider describes it as having “received praise from flyers for its beautiful architecture, efficient operation, luxurious amenities, and dining and shopping options.”

Other upcoming megastructures include Project Jewel, a lustrous facility with vortex waterfalls that will bridge the first three terminals together. And a fifth terminal megastructure with a new runway set to open in the next decade.