One of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, Journey to the West tells the adventures of the monk, Xuan Zang, and his three disciples in their journey to India as they tried to procure the Buddhist scriptures that would be brought back to China. Here, Xuan Zang is seen riding on the White Horse, his constant companion throughout the travels, who, as one of the Dragon King’s sons, was a mythological character himself. In his bid to educate the public about Chinese culture, Aw Boon Haw built a theme park housing sculptures that displayed anecdotes belonging to Chinese folklore and legend, such as Journey to the West. Originally called Tiger Balm Gardens, the villa was built in 1937 along Pasir Panjang Road.
