Har Paw villa

Har Paw Villa was originally called the "Tiger Balm Gardens" and was built in 1937. The villa was was commissioned by Chinese entrepreneurs, Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, owners of the famous Tiger Balm, as a private residence.

In the garden, you can see statues and diorama inspired by Chinese history, mythologies and religion. These sculptures were produced to served as a place for entertainment and cultural education. The private gardens were open to the public on special occasions. For many visitors at the time, it was an opportunity to visit the home of the rich and famous.

Some of the popular legends depicted in the Har Paw Villa include:

Mdm White Snake

Eight Immortal crossing the sea

Journey to the west

Romance of the three kingdoms

10 courts of hell

Outlaws of the Marsh

The Investiture of the Gods

At the time of construction, some of the sculptures were deem too "naughty" that the public protested about it. The craftsmen had to rework to produce a  "tone down" version. Even after the revision, visitors can still see mermaids and sea creatures in bikini and sexy outfits.

You can also see sculptures features contemporary society of the 1930s and 1940s. They show urban life, the bright lights, partying as well as the social problems. This is in contrast to the simple rural life in villages and the challenges they faced.

The Haw Par Villa has no admission charges and is an ideal place to spend time strolling or taking pictures of the sculptures.

There is a Chinese restaurant and a Overseas Chinese museum "Hua Song" inside the Haw Par villa grounds.

Haw Par Villa is about 10 minutes by bus or 5 minutes by taxi from the Peach Garden.