Any trip to Singapore will be made more memorable by a visit to the Tiger Balm Gardens. First built in 1937, Haw Par Villa holds 25 clusters of original statues and figurines which tell the intriguing stories of Chinese mythology, legends and Chinese values.

Described by past visitors as "fascinating, delightful, bizarre and entertaining", the Tiger Balm Gardens is like no other place in the world. Dramatizing Chinese legends and folklore, the colorful statues and figurines immortalize moral values and Chinese cultural heritage for generations to come. Be fascinated by the commitment of the pilgrims in Journey to the West, the adventures of the Eight Immortals invading Neptune's Palace, and the virtue of Lady White Snake.

The original park was built by ointment king and newspaper magnate Aw Boon Haw to educate overseas Chinese about their cultural heritage. Aw Boon Haw built these wonderlands for several reasons. One was to provide a recreation facility for overseas Chinese and in the process, educate them about their rich cultural heritage. The gardens had a practical purpose as well. Being a forerunner in marketing his famous Tiger Balm ointment, Aw Boon Haw figured that people who came to his park would tell others to go to the Tiger Balm Gardens and thus, help to promote his famous ointment.

Just as he did when marketing his fabulous ointment, Aw Boon Haw took the task of designing the Tiger Balm Gardens seriously, carrying it out with a twinkle in his eye. He made sure that the enchantment he saw was executed to delight, soothe, and frighten in just the right proportions. The fantastic environments evoke both delight and horror in you; but no matter what reaction you have to the gardens, once visited, the memory is enduring.