A Singaporean landlady was left frustrated when her tenant abruptly vanished and blocked communications, leaving S$3,800 in unpaid rent. To make matters worse, the tenant left the condominium unit in a state of disrepair and was supposedly cohabiting with her boyfriend, even though the tenancy agreement was only for one person.   Renting out   The landlady, who only wanted to be known as K, had let out the condo unit from September 2024 through an ERA property agent. The tenant, a foreigner surnamed Zhu, had renewed her lease in August 2025 for another year, until September 2026. Zhu was introduced to the landlady by the property agent. K described her as a then-20-year-old studying at a private education institute in Singapore. "[She] first appeared polite and soft spoken," K added. Out of "goodwill", K agreed to a lower rental rate for a single-occupancy contract. Things were fine for a while, until Zhu began to fall behind on rent. There were multiple attempts to contact Zhu, from both K and the property agent, but in vain. Rent was three weeks overdue, totalling about S$3,800, before Zhu eventually responded. To K's surprise, she said she had left Singapore and had returned to China for "health reasons", and it was apparently a permanent move. She then proceeded to block communications with both K and the property agent.   State of the condo   When K turned up to inspect the condo, what she saw left her aghast. Zhu had apparently left the door to the unit unlocked, with the digital lock batteries removed and lightbulbs missing. The power and water had been cut off, and the apartment was left in a dirty and unkempt state. K shared some pictures of the condo's interior after some cleaning had been done.   Pic from K.     Pic from K.     Allegedly cohabited with boyfriend   But Zhu's sudden disappearance and abandonment of the condo was not the end of it. To K's surprise, the condo management office informed her that Zhu had apparently been cohabiting with another person, even though the tenancy agreement was for just one. This person was allegedly Zhu's boyfriend, a foreign national surnamed Lee, who was undergoing National Service in Singapore. According to K, this individual had been regularly entering the condo and accessing the unit, and had asked for an access card and facial recognition. In the process, the condo management obtained his details and personal information. His mail was also delivered to the condo unit.   Seeking to recover losses   There was yet another twist in the tale, as K discovered Zhu had not left Singapore for China at all. Instead, according to the management office, she had supposedly moved to another unit within the same condo, but K apparently did not manage to find her. K expressed frustration with the whole situation, as it was just not about the financial loss, but also the "lack of integrity" from such tenants. She is just seeking the unpaid rent and some money for the cleaning and repairs to the condo unit, even though the tenancy agreement entitles her to claiming the full remaining lease as a penalty for an early breach. "I only asked for the minimal amount needed to cover losses," she said. K made a police report, but was advised to go through the Small Claims Tribunals or file a civil lawsuit instead. Despite clear evidence of a breach of contract, it was not enough for a criminal case, a state of affairs she described as "alarming". K added:  

Man allegedly follows woman at Yishun, several netizens share encounters with the same man A woman was allegedly followed by a man clad in a dress in Yishun after she refused to buy tissue packets from him. Feeling “uncomfortable” with the situation, she called out to a group of male teens, who then confronted the man. The woman posted footage of the incident on TikTok, prompting others to share similar encounters involving the same man. Woman felt ‘uncomfortable’ after he requested a sit-down Speaking to MS News, Indah said she was approached by the man at about 6pm on Sunday (7 Dec) near Block 212 Yishun Street 21.   According to Indah, the man was selling 12 tissue packets for S$15. Source: @nrrindahadryana on TikTok The man also asked Indah for help, claiming he and his grandmother had not eaten for days. “I felt bad, but I didn’t have any cash with me, so I told him that,” Indah recounted. However, he insisted that she had a sit-down with him, which made her “very uncomfortable”. In a TikTok video posted by Indah, the man was seen wearing a black tube dress. He held several tissue packets in his left hand while hanging a large white plastic bag on his arm.     Source: @nrrindahadryana on TikTok 3 teens step in At the end of the clip, three male teens approached the scene. Source: @nrrindahadryana on TikTok “I shouted to the boys for help and walked away,” Indah explained on TikTok. Indah told MS News that she took the chance to leave as the teens came to her aid. However, the man continued tailing her, shouting “miss” several times. When she stopped walking, he asked her if he looked pretty. Indah felt “very shocked and scared” at the time, and only responded by saying “what” and “huh”. Recalling the incident, Indah said the man followed her for about two minutes, and the teens trailed behind him for her safety.   In the comments, a user — presumably one of the youth in the video — posted a photo of the group speaking to the man, to which the OP replied and thanked him. Source: @leonbombiibii on TikTok “Nobody else was around at the time. I’m really thankful for those boys because they helped me when I was scared,” Indah told MS News. She also confirmed that she did not report the incident to the police as he did not touch her or physically harm her. Others share similar encounters with the man Several other netizens mentioned that they had similar experiences with the man. A commenter who goes by Elyssa shared that she saw him on a train at City Hall MRT Station on 4 Dec, wearing a similar dress. Source: @mashpotatoes31 on TikTok Speaking to MS News, she said that the man — who was also holding a plastic bag at the time — “kept staring” at her in the empty carriage. She was “scared”, and eventually alighted the train and “ran off”.   “I was shocked to see that someone else recorded him as well,” she said, urging others to “stay safe” and to avoid engaging the “creepy guy”. Meanwhile, another user claimed that they had bought tissue packets from the man.

Brands from China are spreading their wings, and many are landing in Singapore If you’ve been walking around Singapore’s malls lately, you might have noticed a striking transformation in the retail landscape—the city-state is seeing a growing wave of Chinese brands, from F&B to fashion and lifestyle. Not long ago, these brands carried a stigma, often seen as purveyors of low-quality knockoffs and imitations. Today, that perception has shifted dramatically. Chinese brands have taken the world by storm, expanding aggressively across both Eastern and Western markets. And in a small market like Singapore, these brands are making noticeable inroads. Why the sudden influx of Chinese businesses? Image Credit: Mixue via Instagram The influx of Chinese retail brands into Singapore accelerated in the post-COVID period, driven by a combination of economic pressures in China and opportunities in Singapore. Back home, China’s once-booming consumer sectors were hitting a ceiling. Markets were saturated, growth was tapering off, and profit margins were squeezed, particularly for F&B and lifestyle retailers. Consumer spending, too, had turned sluggish. Such deflationary pressures and intense price competition made expansion abroad an attractive way to maintain revenue streams.   Singapore emerged as a natural destination. Its strong currency, proximity to China, and predominantly Chinese population made expansion both culturally comfortable and commercially strategic. Moreover, high purchasing power, predictable regulations, and ASEAN Free Trade advantages—including lower tariffs and improved infrastructure—further enhanced its appeal. Investor-backed Chinese companies saw Singapore as a stable and accessible market, while smaller entrepreneurs and managerial staff were drawn to the city-state for a more sustainable work-life balance, escaping the infamous 996 (9AM to 9PM, six days a week) culture. These push-and-pull factors together resulted in an ‘aggressive’ wave of Chinese concepts entering Singapore, spreading across nearly every retail and F&B category after the pandemic died down. Competing on price, quality, and experience Image Credit: Haidilao Chinese brands now permeate almost every segment—from F&B to lifestyle to fashion.   Singaporeans are drawn to these brands for several reasons: affordable price points, better perceived value (especially in F&B), a strong service culture honed in China’s competitive market, aesthetic and hyper-efficient store layouts, and cultural and linguistic familiarity.  It’s no surprise, then, that you’ll find snaking queues for stores like Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine, CHAGEE, and Pop Mart. The combination of affordability and elevated experience even makes these brands appealing even to non-Chinese-speaking communities. Yet it poses challenges for local businesses. Competing with brands that combine efficient operations, strong visual merchandising, and competitive pricing is no easy task, particularly in a society adjusting to a slowing economy. And the pressures aren’t the same everywhere. In fact, each sector tells a different story about how Chinese brands are reshaping the market. The Chinese food wave Image Credit: Daniel Food Diary About 85 Chinese food and beverage brands were operating around 405 outlets in Singapore as of Aug 2025—more than double the 32 brands running 184 outlets in Jun the previous year, according to consultancy Momentum Works. Many Chinese brands are backed by deep-pocketed investors, allowing them to outbid local rivals for prime locations. Michelin-starred Yong Fu from Shanghai, for instance, entered Singapore with an investment of S$10 million last year. Chinese eateries have now sprouted everywhere, from hawker stalls to suburban malls, offering affordable meals, generous portions, bold flavours, and sensory-rich experiences. Strategically located in high-traffic areas, these outlets have transformed malls—from Tampines 1 to Grantral Mall at Macpherson—into curated slices of Chengdu, Harbin, or Guangzhou. And Singapore’s local businesses are feeling the impact. Ethan Hsu, head of retail at Knight Frank, told CNA that large-scale Chinese investments have pushed up rents, especially in high-traffic areas with tight commercial space. “These Chinese players seem to have an endless supply of ammunition, of cash,” said Mr Andy Hoon, chairman of Bosses Network, an informal group of local businessmen. If the rental is expected to be between S$30 and S$40 per square foot, Singaporean tenants might offer around S$36 to S$38, he noted. A Chinese brand, however, could offer S$45, a number even higher than landlords expect.   Mr Andrew Tjioe, president and CEO of TungLok restaurant group, added: “I wouldn’t say all of them—some are willing to pay more because profit-making is not their primary motive. They just want to have a presence here so they become international; it’s more for branding.” Image Credit: SDQ International Productions When it comes to drinks, Chinese brands are also making waves. Mixue, Luckin Coffee, and other similar brands offer lower prices and comparable, if not better quality, to established brands like Starbucks, driving strong consumer adoption.  Mixue, the world’s largest F&B chain by store count, had over 46,000 outlets worldwide as of late 2024, with 31 in Singapore as of May 2025. Luckin Coffee, which arrived in Mar 2023, operates 60 stores locally two years on. Younger Singaporeans, in particular, are shedding old stigmas around “Made in China” products. Samer Elhajjar, senior lecturer at the NUS Business School, told Al Jazeera: “Many of these brands are now perceived as cool, modern, and emotionally in tune with what young consumers want. They feel local and global at the same time.” He added: “You can walk into a Chagee and feel part of a new kind of aesthetic culture: clean design, soft lighting, calming music. It is not selling a product; it is selling a feeling.” Collectible toys from China see increased popularity Image Credit: J Fong, Popmart via Google Reviews Lifestyle retail brands from China have surged as well. Both young and older collectors captivated by these quirky “cute‑ugly” toys are an increasingly common sight, with Labubus and Skullpanda keychains adorning bags.  Claw machines filled with these collectibles have also become a popular attraction in malls, drawing avid players eager to win their favorite characters. This is thanks to Pop Mart’s retail entry into Southeast Asia through Singapore in 2021, and it has since expanded to 10 stores nationwide. More recently, KKV, a Chinese lifestyle-collection chain, opened its first store this May at Tiong Bahru Plaza. The store offers a curated selection of items across eight categories, including toys, homeware, daily essentials, and cosmetics. It plans to open 10 stores by the end of this year. Its candy-coloured aisles, aggressive expansion, and wide product range resemble Miniso but at a more curated, design-forward level.  Similarly, Scarlett Supermarket has expanded rapidly across heartland estates, meeting growing demand for Chinese groceries, snacks, and beverages. Opening 44 stores in just over five years, it is present in large shopping centers and also smaller heartland locations. Chinese sportswear brands like Anta and Li-Ning are also expanding. Anta plans to reach 1,000 stores in Southeast Asia within the next three years after regional retail sales nearly doubled in the first half of 2025, with 224 stores as of Jun. Anta opened its first Singapore store in 2023 and now has 11 islandwide, while Li-Ning launched its first of two stores at the end of 2024. Auto and tech: When “Made in China” becomes an advantage Image Credit: Reuters Chinese brands are also making significant inroads in higher-value sectors. BYD’s entry into Singapore’s electric vehicle (EV) market illustrates China’s growing dominance in electric vehicles. Launching its retail passenger-car presence in 2022, BYD quickly overtook legacy automakers to become Singapore’s best-selling car brand for two consecutive years. Its EVs are significantly more affordable than comparable models from Toyota, BMW, or Tesla, yet they still offer modern technology, long battery range, and premium features. Singapore’s car market is notoriously expensive, especially with Certificate of Entitlement (COE) costs; BYD’s pricing strategy makes EV ownership more attainable for a wider demographic. In Oct 2025, the brand led the market with 7,473 registrations, surpassing Toyota by 2,027 units and representing 19.7% of new car registrations. Its strong price-to-performance ratio and accessibility have cemented its mainstream appeal. Think about it: among your social circle, how many of your friends have kept a Xiaomi robot vacuum or a Xiaomi TV at home in recent years? Chinese products are seen as more reliable, affordable, and accessible than Western ones by Singaporeans, who have become more cautious with their spending amid a bleak economic landscape. The premium Chinese wave Image Credit: Edition Chinese brands have also moved into premium segments.  No longer just affordable, mid-range brands like Yishion and Urban Revivo, Edition, and Mo&Co have established footholds in Singapore in high-end places like Raffles City and Jewel Changi Airport, supported by sleek branding and collaborations with Chinese and international celebrities.  Their presence signals that Chinese retail is no longer confined to “cheap and cheerful”—it is now sophisticated, trend-driven, and aspirational. The accelerated adoption of Chinese phone brands has followed a similar trajectory, coinciding with broader shifts in consumer sentiment. Singaporeans are increasingly comfortable with “Made in China” products, seeing them as modern and reliable, sometimes even more so than their Western counterparts. Demand for premium Chinese products is evident from consumers being willing to pay over S$1,000 for devices from Huawei or Oppo. This accelerated adoption of Chinese phones has coincided with a broader shift in consumer sentiment, as negative perceptions of Chinese brands have gradually faded amid perceived quality improvements over the years. What this means for Singapore businesses Image Credit: Jack Hong via Shutterstock This retail wave raises cultural and economic questions. Is Singapore’s landscape becoming too homogenous? Are local brands being squeezed by aggressive pricing and expansion? Does the influx enhance diversity or erode local identity? While Chinese brands bring vibrancy, choice, and affordability, they also reshape neighborhood malls and challenge homegrown players to remain relevant. Singapore is witnessing a monumental shift as Chinese retail businesses expand across sectors. Pushed by challenges in China and pulled by opportunities in Singapore, these brands are changing not just what we buy, but how we shop and what we value. For local businesses, competing on price alone is no longer viable. Survival and growth will require stronger storytelling, unique local concepts, premiumisation or niche positioning, and enhanced customer experiences. The market is increasingly crowded, and only brands with clear, compelling concepts will stand out. The question is no longer whether Chinese brands will continue to grow—they already have. The real challenge is whether Singaporean businesses can evolve quickly enough to maintain relevance and preserve the city-state’s unique retail identity. As Singapore changes, the true test is whether we can share our spaces without losing the places that make us feel at home. Whether Singaporean businesses can adapt and thrive in this new retail landscape may depend not just on their innovation but also on how trade policies, commercial space management, and support mechanisms evolve in tandem.       https://vulcanpost.com/907094/china-brands-in-singapore/

Yes kimchi goodness