Haw Par Villa

Haw Par Villa—originally known as Tiger Balm Garden—is an 8.5-hectare cultural park in Singapore founded in 1937 by Aw Boon Haw, the business mind behind Tiger Balm, as a gift to his brother and a public showcase of Chinese mythology and moral tales. Now known for its vivid dioramas and statues, it remains one of the few parks in the world built explicitly around folklore and philosophical themes.

The site once housed a personal villa and landscaped terraces—with swimming pools and gardens—that were later replaced by sculptures and storytelling scenes. Aw Boon Haw built the park to share Chinese culture, literature, and beliefs in an era before mass media. After World War II, the original villa was demolished, and the park expanded with scenes such as Journey to the West, the Eight Immortals, and most notably, the Ten Courts of Hell.

• Ten Courts of Hell: A sculptural path through Chinese ideas of sin and retribution, these imposing displays explore morality through a graphic, visceral lens.
• Allegorical Dioramas: From mythic adventures like Journey to the West to Confucian moral lessons, the park includes over 1,000 statues and 150 dioramas rendered in striking detail
• International Corners: Once included sculptures of international figures—kangaroos, koalas, and more—as a nod to global cultures encountered by Aw Cheng Chye, Aw Boon Haw’s nephew.

The park, once a beloved family destination, diminished in popularity over time. Since being managed by a heritage organization in 2015, it’s seen restoration and occasional reinterpretive exhibitions. A notable addition is Hell’s Museum, an indoor, air-conditioned exhibit exploring death and the afterlife across cultures, including the Ten Courts of Hell in a new setting.

Everyday 9:00 am – 8:00 pm

$16