6 Facts That Will Transform Your Haw Par Villa Adventure
Haw Par Villa has always been regarded as a mystical place where our worst nightmares come alive. From its lavish beginnings to its intricate figurines that illustrates ancient Chinese folklore, Haw Par Villa is definitely the place to go if you are looking for an unconventional adventure in Singapore! To help make your Haw Par Villa adventure more exciting and meaningful, the WanderCat team has put together a list of 6 facts you should definitely know about Haw Par Villa before arriving!
1. The Beginnings
Housing more than 1000 statues and 150 giant dioramas, Haw Par Villa is an ancient architecture that stood in Singapore for more than 80 years. The park, originally named “Tiger Balm Gardens”, was conceived by Aw Boon Haw. He loved his younger brother, Aw Boon Par, so much that he generously spent US$1.95 million to build this villa specially for him. Hence, the grand and massive Haw Par Villa is actually a touching symbol of the brotherly love between the Aw brothers.
2. Origins Of The Aw family
Having said that Aw Boon Haw spent US$1.95 million to build a lavish villa, where then did he get the money? If you were astute enough, you would have guessed that our ever familiar “Tiger Balm” ointment was created by the Aw family! By improvising after their late father’s recipe, the Aw brothers worked tirelessly to perfect the “Tiger Balm” ointment. The ointment received tremendous support from the public, and by 1920, Aw Boon Haw have already became the richest Chinese in Rangoon.
3. Tiger Cars
The Tiger Cars have always been an iconic yet often overlooked attraction in Haw Par Villa. Back in the days, Aw Boon Haw would give out ointment samples in his custom-made car with a fabricated tiger head, while honking his roaring honk. Two Tiger Cars were being specially manufactured in 1927 and 1932 respectively, which garnered a fair amount of attention back then. The Tiger Cars can still be found in their original garages in the villa, so be sure to check them out when you visit!
4. 10 Courts Of Hell
The “10 Courts of Hell” is a must-see attraction at Haw Par Villa. With its intricate and gruesome depictions, do be warned that some may feel slightly uncomfortable in this exhibition! This exhibition mainly depicts the various scenarios in the different courts if one sinned in their life. Sins include lying, gossiping, disrespecting your elders etc. We personally were most intrigued by this exhibition, as the realistic and detailed depictions were unique and gave us deeper insights into the ancient Chinese folklore.
5. The Wishing Well
Hidden away at a remote corner, the Wishing Well is also an attraction worth visiting at Haw Par Villa. With a Goddess of Mercy Guanyin figurine erected at the top of the well, many visitors believe that by making a wish and ringing the bell, their wish would come true. We absolutely loved the tranquillity around this area, which was some much needed peace away from the boisterous city life.
6. Journey To The West
The ever popular novel, “Journey to the West” will always be an unforgettable classic. At Haw Par Villa, this mythical legend is being brought to life with its majestic figurines and realistic depictions! From Sun Wu Kong being trapped under the Five Elements Mountain to the great battle with the White Bone Demon, this exhibition is definitely a feat to see.
Tip: As this is an outdoor exhibition, do remember to bring your umbrellas or caps when visiting to shield you away from the merciless Singapore sun!
General Information
Address: 262 Pasir Panjang Rd Singapore 118628
Opening hours: Daily 9am — 7pm
