Department of Information Technology

On July 5, Mayor Chiang Wan-an and the delegation from Taipei City arrived in Singapore for an official visit. He was greeted at the airport by friendly crowds, who took pictures and asked for the mayor’s autograph.

Accompanied by staff from the airport, the city delegation explored a number of facilities inside Jewel Changi Airport, including the world’s tallest indoor waterfall “Rain Vortex.” The members of the delegation took photos in front of the impressive attraction.

The mayor noted that the Rain Vortex integrates hydroponic plants into the overall design, bringing elements of a natural eco system into people’s daily life. He believes that this approach will serve as a valuable reference for Taipei City, since the structure also helps to lower the temperature in its immediate surrounding through natural means.

Chiang pointed out that Singapore’s longtime effort in tree planting has paid off with its success in effectively reducing heat in an urban environment. In addition to lowering the temperature, the creative approach of merging water and plants into Jewel Changi Airport also realizes the concepts of environmental protection and sustainable development. This is something Taipei can learn from Singapore, which serves as important reference for carbon emission reduction and building planning.

Transportation Commissioner Hsieh Ming-hong remarked that both Taipei and Singapore share similar traits of urban heat islands, and such type of green structure is comparatively friendly to the environment. Urban Development Commissioner Wang Yu-fen added that integrating leisure, commercial, and other facilities into the Jewel Changi Airport creates a lot of room for imagination for both tourists and visitors as they leisurely explore the facility.