Haw Par Villa, Singapore

Unique in character and rich in heritage and educational values, Haw Par Villa is a favourite tourist attraction of visitors of the young and elderly.

It is an undisputed wonderland that is characterised by more than a thousand colourful sculptures, which artistically portray stories and events related to famous Chinese historical personalities, mythology and legends.

The Garden was created by the well-known wealthy businessman, Aw Boon Haw in 1937. It was the site of a grand residence of his beloved brother and a popular tourist spot. Over many decades, it has attracted numerous local visitors as well as foreign tourists.

Today, Haw Par Villa remains as a fitting tribute to the two extraordinary brothers, Aw Boon Haw (Gentle or cultured Tiger) and Aw Boon Par (Gentle or cultured Leopard), the Tiger Balm Kings. Come and experience the delight and wonder of this fantastic visual world and have a field day for capturing the amazing and memorable images on films.

Background

Haw Par Villa (formerly also known as ‘Tiger Balm Garden’) was built by the ingenious entrepreneur Aw Boon Haw, founder of Tiger Balm ointment, as a gift for his younger brother Aw Boon Par. And by allowing visitors into the Garden, he hoped to use the images and stories to educate overseas Chinese about their culture. He called the place after their names.

Aw Boon Par only lived in the Villa for a few years before World War II broke out. He passed away at the age of 60 in Rangoon in 1944. But Boon Haw continued to improve and expand the grounds of his creation and welcome visitors until his death in 1954.

Boon Haw lived his life by his personal motto, “That which is derived from society should be returned to society.” Philanthropy was part of everyday life for him, both small kindness and large kindness. In the larger scheme of his life, Singapore’s Haw Par Villa and a similar Garden that was also built by him in Hong Kong (but has in later years been replaced by a new development) were among the many things that he shared with others during their time.

Information Guide For Visitors To Haw Par Villa

Visiting Hours:
9.00 am – 7.00 pm
(Daily, including Sundays and Public Holidays)

Admission:
Free (entrance and tour of open-air areas).
Prevailing admission charges applicable to:-

• ‘Hua Song’ Museum
• ‘The Ten Courts Of Hell’

Location:
262 Pasir Panjang Road
Singapore 118628

Getting There:
By Bus – take one of the following buses:
* SBS Bus 10, 30, 51, 143, 200.
* SMRT Bus 176, 188.

By Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) – stations nearest to Haw Par Villa:-
* At Buona Vista Station, transfer to Bus 200, or
* At Harbourfront Station, transfer to Bus 10, 30, 143 or 188.

Driving
* Parking area available at site
* Parking Fee: $5.00 per entry (loaded tour buses exempted)

Food & Beverages:

• Orient Gourmet
  specialised in local fast meal
  9.00 am – 6.00 pm daily
• Made In China Chinese Cuisine
  specialised in contemporary Chinese cuisine
  11.30 am – 3.00 pm and 6.00 pm – 10.30 pm daily

Tour Duration:
Depending on individuals’ desire, the norm is approximately 2 to 3 hours

Enquiries:
* Concerning the following matters, call Tel: +65 6872 2003 or +65 6872 2780:-

• Organising of private functions or activities;
• Excursion and Guided Tour;
• Media or Movie Filming;
• Other matters pertaining to the park.

* Concerning restaurants’ services or bookings, call:-

• +65 6775 2665 for Orient Gourmet, or
• +65 6777 7819 for Made In China Chinese Cuisine

Correspondence:

• By post – address as follows:-
  The Manager
  Orient Management Pte Ltd
  Haw Par Villa
  262 Pasir Panjang Road
  Singapore 118628
  Republic of Singapore
• By email – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• By fax - +65 6872 2694

Text Courtesy of Orient Management Pte Ltd, the management company for Haw Par Villa. Photography by Eugene Tang/SingaporeSights. All Rights Reserved.