A 34-year-old Chinese woman was found dead in her room at Marina Bay Sands on December 20, 2025, in an incident that has left her family seeking answers about her life in Singapore.
The woman, identified as Zhang Qiujiie (name transliterated), was discovered motionless at around 3pm at the hotel located along Bayfront Avenue. She was pronounced dead at the scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedic. Police said preliminary investigations indicate no foul play, and inquiries are ongoing.
According to reports by Shin Min Daily News and 8World, Qiujiie’s parents only arrived in Singapore on December 29 after delays in obtaining their passports. They had been informed of their daughter’s death by the Chinese embassy and had not been in contact with her for nearly two years since she left China to work in the city.
Funeral director Zheng Haichuan told 8World that Qiujiie’s parents are farmers and come from a financially disadvantaged background. They described their daughter as kind-hearted, recalling how she once donated money to support victims of the Wenchuan earthquake.
Moved by their situation, Zheng agreed to manage the funeral arrangements free of charge.
Shin Min reported that Qiujiie’s parents hoped to learn more about their daughter’s life in Singapore, as they were unaware of how long she had been living there or the circumstances surrounding her death. They were also unable to access her locked mobile phone and appealed for anyone who knew her to come forward with information.
Qiujiie is survived by two teenage siblings, who were unable to travel to Singapore due to financial constraints.
According to 8World, her remains were cremated on January 1, but her ashes were not brought back to China due to family circumstances. Her parents have since returned home.
Zheng said plans are underway to lay Qiujiie’s ashes to rest at Mandai, so her siblings will be able to visit her grave should they travel to Singapore in the future.
Police said they received a call for assistance at about 3pm on December 20 and confirmed that investigations into the case are still ongoing.
