Step into the eerie world of Haw Par Villa. A place where myths and legends come alive. Haw Par Villa in Singapore isn’t your average theme park. It’s a unique blend of art history and folklore. Brothers Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par created this fantastical world. They were famous for their Tiger Balm ointment. The villa itself was originally a home. It was built in 1937 for Aw Boon Par by his elder brother.
Aw Boon Haw meticulously oversaw the creation of Haw Par Villa. He didn’t rely on blueprints. Instead he personally inspected the sculptors’ work. He directed them on changes and additions. He visited every few months. Each visit lasted one to two months. His morning inspections were a two hour ritual. He even scrutinized the colors used. This level of detail shaped the park’s unique character.
Haw Par Villa is more than just statues. It’s an open-air museum. It features scenes from Chinese folklore. You’ll find depictions of virtues and vices. You’ll encounter terrifying scenes from the Courts of Hell. There are also lighter moments. The Journey to the West is depicted. So is the story of the Eight Immortals. The park educates visitors. It teaches values like filial piety and resisting temptation.
The grounds originally included a zoo. Animals like snakes roamed freely. Some escaped. This led to safety concerns. The live animals were later removed. They were replaced with statues to eliminate the risks. This detail adds another layer to the park’s unique story.
Later additions expanded Haw Par Villa. Aw Cheng Chye added International Corners. He included figures like a Sumo wrestler and a Thai dancer. Replicas of Tiger Balm products were added too. After the Aw family’s time the Singapore government acquired the villa. They leased it to various companies for development. It even became a commercial theme park for a time.
Today Haw Par Villa is a free public park. It remains a captivating destination. A place where history art and myth intertwine. It’s more than just a park. It’s a living testament to a family’s vision. It’s a testament to a unique chapter in Singapore’s history. Explore its fascinating sculptures. Discover the stories they tell. Haw Par Villa awaits your visit.