One of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, Journey to the West narrates the adventures of the monk, Xuan Zang, and his three disciples as they journeyed to India to procure Buddhist scriptures to take back to China. Their travels were fraught with dangers, some of which involved the spider spirits. In this exhibit, the spirits transformed themselves into beautiful maidens, hoping to entice Xuan Zang and his disciples in a bid to derail their plans. Aw Boon Haw built a theme park housing sculptures that illustrated anecdotes relating to Chinese legends and folklore in an attempt to educate the public about Chinese culture. Originally called Tiger Balm Gardens, the villa was built in 1937 along Pasir Panjang Road.
