Jewel Changi and its soaring indoor rainforest
Published on 09/10/2026 at 11:16 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Jewel Changi in Singapur is a vast glass-and-steel dome attached to the main airport, built around an indoor rainforest and a central waterfall that drops through the roof. Completed in 2019 with design architect Moshe Safdie, it combines transport infrastructure with a multi-level nature, retail and leisure complex under one continuous canopy.
A glass torus built around water and forest
From the outside, Jewel Changi appears as a broad, low glass volume with a concave roof, forming a torus that wraps around a central courtyard space. The structure was designed by Safdie Architects as a mixed-use development attached to Changi’s Terminal 1, extending between the other terminals and creating an enclosed hub for passengers and city residents alike.Designed by Safdie Architects The building’s location at 78 Airport Boulevard in Changi places it within the wider airport estate yet separate from the individual departure halls.78 Airport Boulevard address
The roof spans a large internal courtyard that holds trees, terraces and the central waterfall. Glass panels and steel framing admit daylight across several levels, while the surrounding ring houses retail units, accommodation and other facilities. Standing at 40 m (130 ft), the Rain Vortex at the heart of Jewel Changi is recognised as the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, and it falls into a pool at basement level after passing through the roof.Rain Vortex height and status The waterfall’s column of water is visible from multiple levels, with the forested slopes rising around it.
HSBC Rain Vortex and Shiseido Forest Valley
The centrepiece of Jewel Changi is the HSBC Rain Vortex, a 40 m indoor waterfall that descends through the dome and into the lower level basin in the middle of the gardens.HSBC Rain Vortex attraction The flow uses recirculated rainwater, which is pumped up to the roof and then allowed to fall back down through the opening, creating a continuous vertical sheet of water within the building.Recirculating rainwater system Around the waterfall, walkways and terraces provide viewpoints at different heights, with the retail arcades set behind the planted slopes.
Surrounding the waterfall is the Shiseido Forest Valley, an indoor garden that spans several storeys and covers an area of around 22,000 square metres (240,000 sq ft).Forest Valley size The valley holds thousands of trees, palms and shrubs selected from tropical forests and arranged in tiers that follow the curvature of the building. Paths and trails wind through this planting, rising from the lower levels up towards the higher floors and creating prolonged walks entirely within the dome.Indoor garden with thousands of plants Seating areas, small clearings and water features are set among the vegetation, offering different vantage points onto the waterfall and the interior.
Canopy Park and the upper-level attractions
At the topmost level of Jewel Changi lies Canopy Park, a collection of gardens and leisure spaces built above the Forest Valley. This upper deck occupies a broad ring and includes planted gardens, art installations and play structures, all under the same glass roof as the main courtyard.Canopy Park description Here, visitors find features such as hedge mazes, elevated nets and viewing platforms that extend over the void towards the waterfall, as well as indoor topiary and seasonal displays.
The multiple levels of Jewel Changi mean that the experience changes between the lower garden paths, the mid-level balconies and the high-level attractions. The ring-shaped plan allows continuous circuits around the central void, with escalators and lifts connecting the floors and the airport terminals beyond. Throughout, the combination of engineered roof, planted slopes and the strong presence of water gives the complex a distinctive character within the wider Changi Airport setting.
Visiting Jewel Changi: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Jewel Changi stands in Changi on the eastern side of Singapur, directly connected to Terminal 1 and linked by pedestrian bridges from the other airport terminals.
- Inside, the Shiseido Forest Valley rises across several levels with gently sloping paths, stairs and terraces, so moving between viewpoints involves walking on gradients and climbing steps.
- Canopy Park occupies the highest public level, reached by escalators and lifts, and includes elevated walkways and nets that are set above the central void.
- The official language is English and the currency is the Singapore dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Jewel Changi on social platforms
These links open searches for Jewel Changi on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Jewel Changi
Where is Jewel Changi located?
Jewel Changi stands at 78 Airport Boulevard in the Changi area of Singapur, attached directly to Terminal 1 and linked to the other terminals by walkways.
What can visitors expect on a visit?
Visitors encounter an indoor waterfall dropping 40 m through a glass roof, forested slopes with walking trails, multi-level retail arcades and an upper deck of gardens and leisure attractions.
What makes Jewel Changi distinctive?
Jewel Changi is distinctive for combining a torus-shaped glass-and-steel structure, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and a multi-storey indoor forest within an airport complex.
