He Xian Gu is one of the Eight Immortals, whose stories have always been close to the hearts of ordinary Chinese as the life conditions they represent, such as age, poverty and wealth, are what the masses at large can relate to. Each immortal owns a magical emblem, which in the case of He Xian Gu is a lotus bloom that symbolises open-heartedness, very much her character trait. Sculptures and statues portraying themes from Chinese folklore and legend such as the Eight Immortals 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.
