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