One of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, Journey to the West tells the adventures that the monk, Xuan Zang, and his three disciples made as they travelled to India on a pilgrimage to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Their quest was fraught with dangers, one of which included an encounter with the spider spirits, which had captured Xuan Zang, as depicted in this exhibit. Sculptures and statues portraying themes from Chinese folklore and legends, such as Journey to the West, form the foundation of Haw Par Villa. Aw Boon Haw had built Haw Par Villa in 1937 in a bid to educate the public about Chinese culture. Originally called Tiger Balm Gardens, the theme park was located along Pasir Panjang Road.
