Built in 1937, singapores largest outdoor art gallery is the brainchild of aw boon haw, the millionaire philanthropist and marketing extraordinaire who gifted the world tiger balm. The official page of haw par villa tiger balm gardens, managed by the heritageloving team at journeys pte ltd. Haw par villa formerly known as the tiger balm garden is an 8. Oral history interview with teoh veoh seng transcript of cassette recording no. Top 10 singapore hotels near haw par villa station. The gardens and their sculptures were open to the public, and drew at least a million visitors a year at the peak of its popularity. Villa park came into usage when a post office was located here and there already was a city of mountain view in northern california. Haw par villa was built by tiger balm king aw boon haw for his younger brother aw boon par in 1937. The company distributes its products in america, europe, the middle east, africa, asia, and australasia. Kind of like a theme park, its a collection of painte. Haw par villa tiger balm gardens infopedia nlb eresources. The park contains over 1,000 statues and 150 giant dioramas depicting scenes from chinese mythology, folklore, legends, history, and illustrations of various aspects of confucianism.
Opened in 2011, two mass rapid transit mrt stations haw par villa and pasir panjang service the pasir panjang area. At haw par villa, there are four eyecatching stone memorials. As you enter the tunnel, you are greeted by the first courts king. Haw par villa poems on the pillars is a poem couplet written by yu da fu, aptly describing haw par villa then. Singapores red data book, a reference guide on locally threatened. Somehow, haw par villa has crept its way into many mustdo lists for people. This fascinating park is known for its legends of confucianism and gruesome depictions of the 10 courts of hell. The origins of haw par villa located on a hill in pasir panjang, haw par villa was once known as tiger balm gardens. International limiteds 25th anniversary commemorative book. The villa was originally built in 1937 by businessman aw boon haw, famous for the. Built in 1937, singapores largest outdoor art gallery is the brainchild of aw boon haw, millionaire philanthropist and marketing extraordinaire.
Villa park was not incorporated until 1962, but the history of the area goes back to around 1860. The roar of the tiger a story of the haw par brothers. Haw par villas golden period arguably came in the seventies and eighties. This place was visited by my husband in 1970 with the royal navy and by myself by 1972 on our way back to the uk on our way back from australia. Coney island and the forgotten haw par beach villa remember. During the japanese occupation, many of the aw familys properties were heavily damaged. Haw par corporation limited was formerly known as haw par brothers international limited and changed its name to haw par corporation limited in 1997. Haw par villa a theme park that includes graphic displays of torture and debauchery is a most unsingaporean place, and perfect for halloween. Media in category haw par villa the following 91 files are in this category, out of 91 total. Jul 28, 2019 haw par villa also houses many dioramas depicting popular chinese fables. Also known as tiger balm gardens, the park was built in 1937 by aw boon haw after he made a fortune from the burmese herbal medicine tiger balm. Originally known as tiger balm gardens, the park was founded in 1937 by aw boon haw and aw boon par, the burmese brothers and businessmen behind the popular herbal ointment tiger balm.
In the last nine years of aw boon haw s life, from 1946 to the time he died in 1954, he spent every morning in the cultural park, working with artisans and contractors to build, rebuild and tear down sculptures and dioramas. The haw par villa was built on coney island in the 1930s by the aw brothers, who originally owned the island. It describes, in detail, the torture and punishment for each sin one commits in a lifetime. Haw par villa celebrates 80th anniversary this weekend with. The whole ethos of haw par villa or tiger balm gardens was about the brothers giving to the people of singapore, the whole ethos was about community, heritage, culture. Singapores nightmarish theme park is a place where meticulously detailed threedimensional dioramas depict the punishments for crimes of varying severity, from murder to reading the wrong books. Haw pars renowned ointment tiger balm and product extensions like tiger balm soft, tiger medicated plaster and tiger muscle rub are manufactured and marketed through haw par healthcare limited, a listed subsidiary.
The eclectic park is a treasure trove of asian culture, history, philosophy and religion quirky yet enlightening, at the same time. The 10 stages in the court of hell haw par villa, singapore. In history, two singapore islands have been given the name of coney island pulau satumu. Path towards the haw par villa at coney island youtube. Haw par villa twilight walking tour in singapore my guide. Situated in the southern part of holland village, haw par villa, also known as tiger balm gardens, is one of the most unusual places found in singapore. Dive in the engrossing treasure trove of asian philosophy and cultural heritage, along with enthralling stories behind the park while finding your tao in the haw par villa. Locally rare in the wild, cycads have a long fossil history. This attraction used to be set inside a 60metre long trail of a chinese dragon but the dragon has been demolished, so the attraction is now covered by grey stone walls.
A quick walk from haw par station, haw par villa is a collection of one mans obsession with taoist folk tales and the brutal morals they impart. Find your tao in the haw par villa the tiger balm garden story the haw par villa has over a thousand statues with a story behind each of them. These products are used throughout the world to invigorate the body as well as to soothe away aches and pains. Hear stories of death and the afterlife that bring a new dimension to the weird and wonderful sculptures at haw par villa, once known as tiger balm garden. In the 1930s and 40s, the island was referred to as haw par island,3 as it was. The 5 best singapore theme parks with photos tripadvisor. For us the gardens and aw boon haws story became inseparable. Discover the history of the aw family and learn more about the creation of singapores largest outdoor gallery in this exhibition. Formerly known as the tiger balm garden, haw par villa was built in 1937 by philanthropist and entrepreneur aw boon haw. Haw par dividend yield h02 singapore stock dividends history. Occupied by aw boon par for a short period, it was seized by the japanese during the japanese occupation. Haw par s renowned ointment tiger balm and product extensions like tiger balm soft, tiger medicated plaster and tiger muscle rub are manufactured and marketed through haw par healthcare limited, a listed subsidiary. The parks has a collection of over 1,000 statues and 150 giant tableaux centered around chinese folklore, legends, history, and confucian ideology. Oct 27, 2017 haw par villa celebrates 80th anniversary this weekend with guided tour to hell a tour of haw par villa s 10 courts of hell is meant to be a chance for visitors to have a serious think about taboo.
The 50 ha coney island park opened on 10 october 2015. The park was meant to be both an attraction and a learning opportunity for its visitors. Decades before universal studios, adventure cove water park, and resorts on sentosa island, haw par villa was singapores first theme park. Before the fifties, pulau serangoon was known instead as haw par island. Haw and par mean tiger and leopard in the chinese dialect. It was built in 1937, by the rich burmese chinese entrepreneur haw boon aw 1882 1954 for his brother boon par 18881944. The novel is a fictional account of xuan zangs, a buddhist monk, pilgrimage to india to collect the holy scriptures. Coney island and the forgotten haw par beach villa. Wanting to give back to the community, they designed the park as a place where children could learn about traditional chinese values. Nparks transplanted them to coney island, where they are back in their native beach habitat. Haw par villa, also known as the tiger balm gardens has to be one of the weirdest tourist spots you can find in southeast asia, and the weirdest in singapore aw boob haw and aw boon par, the two. The fifth episode of nhbs eye in the sky series uses aerial videography to showcase coney island and the former haw par beach villa. Coney island park news national parks board nparks.
The bestknown attraction in haw par villa is the ten courts of hell, which features gruesome depictions of hell in chinese mythology and buddhism. For example, we have journey to the west, one of the four great classical novels in chinese literature. It was named after the aw brothers boon haw and boon par who created tiger balm in the early 1900s, the flagship business of haw par. This was a fascinating part of the haw par villa theme park, in singapore. Oct 17, 2015 4 haw par beach villa the villa was built by the haw par brothers aw boon haw and aw boon par who created the tiger balm ointment and set up chinese daily sin chew jit poh in singapore.
It is an orientalstyle theme park located on the grounds of a hillside villa of the same name that was located along pasir panjang road in the southwestern part of singapore. Haw par villa, singapores strangest theme park eunicetan. At their peak, the aw family owned many properties in singapore, including the famous haw par villa, the haw par mansion and the jade house. The history of singapores coney island culture trip. The villa was built by the haw par brothers aw boon haw and aw. Tina turbeville acknowledge in the introduction to their book, tiger balm gardens. The villa was created in 1937 as tiger balm gardens by aw boon haw and aw boon par, the makers of the medicinal ointment known as tiger balm, as a way to give back to the community and to.
Haw par villa the weirdest theme park in singapore. Haw par brothers international limited was incorporated and listed in 1969. Composed around a hill, its summit featured an iconic mansion with a recurring circle motif representing family harmony. In particular, ten species of fauna recorded during surveys on coney island are listed in singapores red data book. I appreciated more of the historical value behind these dioramas rather than the educational value. Haw par villa in singapore was originally built in the 1930s to honor chinese folklore and culture. Hu bao bieshu is a theme park located along pasir panjang road in singapore. Coney island pulau serangoon infopedia nlb eresources. Description visit the haw par villa on this 2hour guided tour after dark and explore the eclectic cultural park. If you have an upcoming booking to change or cancel, check the next steps and policies here. Haw par villa hu bao bieshu, also known as the tiger balm. Mar 02, 2017 this was haw par villa fifty years ago. The park is mostly statues though there was a small restaurant that was open, a gift shop, and vendors just outside the gate that sold water and sodas. The theme park, and its famous illustrations of ten courts of hell, was opened to the public for free, and attracted tens of thousands of visitors every year.
Haw par villa hu bao bieshu, also known as the tiger balm gardens, is named after brothers aw boon haw and aw boon par. Once known as tiger balm gardens, aw boon haw built haw par villa in 1937 for his brother boon par, as a. Haw par villa singapore chinese folklore themepark. If you want, you can hire a tour guide to be with you throughout your entire journey through the haw par villa. Two trees on the island have ancient origins and a long fossil history. You can book haw par villa in case you need a venue for any events or celebrations. Haw par villa is a bizarre and vivid mix of statues that show or explain chinese folklore. It was built around 1937 by the har par brothers who made their fortune manufacturing tiger balm medicinal products.
The history of haw par villa opened to the public in 1937, haw par villa was built by aw boon haw one of the famed tiger balm siblings as a present to his brother. Both are part of the circle line and have helped boost accessibility to the area. While owners of the island, the brothers constructed a relatively modest villa on it, known now as haw par beach villa. How singapores haw par villa brings hell to life atlas obscura.
Situated at pasir panjang, this theme park is named after the aw brothers that were born in burma. Haw par corporation limited also provides management support services. History coney island was originally known as pulau serangoon sometimes spelt pulo. Haw par villa is also seen by its visitors as something that takes you to other worlds that you think only exist within your dream. A new mansion, haw par villa, was built on a hill in pasir panjang surrounded by unique gardens depicting chinese mythology for the younger, quieter boon par in 1937. In 1937, aw boon haw built his beach villa on pulau serangoon after purchasing the island. Haw par villa was built in 1937 by the founders of tiger balm, designed to be a fun place to teach children about buddhist, confucian and taoist mythology though the results are less kidfriendly by todays standards. Also known as tiger balm gardens, it was open to the public. Haw par villa this is a really unique and bizarre theme park located in singapore. Watch chinese mythology and folklore come to life in the more than 1,000 colorful statues and tableaux that decorate haw par villa. They were once creating a medical ointment they refer to as the tiger balm. Chinese immigrants museum haw par villa, singapore. It was then owned by the prominent burmeseborn aw brothers, aw boon haw 18821954 and aw boon par 18881944, who built a huge business empire with their trademark tiger balm ointment.