Singapore's Haw Par Villa Reopens with Hell's Museum and Plans for Rise of Asia Museum

Haw Par Villa, Singapore's bizarre sculpture park featuring hundreds of statues depicting Chinese legends and moral teachings, recently reopened after refurbishment. The park's most famous section is the 'Ten Courts of Hell,' which graphically illustrates underworld punishments. Built in 1937 on the grounds of Tiger Balm founder Aw Boon Haw's private villa, the park originally promoted Chinese values through dramatic Confucian displays. Over time, management changes introduced eclectic additions like sumo wrestlers and Thai court dancers. After Singapore's government acquired the park in 1985 via the Land Acquisition Act, various commercialization attempts failed, including a 1990s Disneyfied theme park venture called Haw Par Villa Dragon World. In October, heritage consultancy Journeys opened Hell's Museum, charging S$15 admission to view the air-conditioned hellscapes while keeping the rest of the park free. The museum explores afterlife concepts across religions with exhibits including a coffin in a burial pit and Hokkien funeral arrangements. For 2022, plans include the Rise of Asia Museum focusing on Asian entrepreneurship. Despite its contradictions and moral ambiguities, Haw Par Villa maintains its unique character, resisting commercial success while attracting determined visitors.