An elaborate dragon tattoo design on display in a tattoo shop Photo: Yang Hui/GT

This is now a scene being replicated in the hundreds of tattoo shops found throughout Shanghai every day. A young woman is lying on a couch, clenching her fists with the discomfort as a tattooist carefully needles and colors the lines of the prescribed design she wants on her thigh.

Over the buzz of the drill which vibrates a needle into the skin at between 80 and 150 times, the woman explains that she is being brave. "It hurts a little but I can manage it." In an hour or so she will be walking out of the studio with a cute floral border permanently encircling one of her thighs. She will join thousands of others in the city who have chosen to mark themselves permanently.

This man's tattoos are linked to important moments in his life. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

The tools of the trade at a city tattoo shop Photo: Yang Hui/GT

Tattooing has been practiced for centuries in many cultures and countries but today's young people often use tattoos as a fashion statement. A 2008 Harris Interactive survey estimated that 14 percent of all adults in the US had a tattoo.

"We think of it as a fashion culture," explained Ming, an experienced tattooist in Shanghai. His arms are covered with colorful designs. Eight years ago Ming encountered the body design craft for the first time at a French tattoo show. He was completely enthralled by the exquisite living skin designs and decided to learn how to do it.

"When I advanced it became much more difficult as the patterns were so complex." A tattoo the size of a cigarette packet can take two or three hours to complete.

The choice of design is entirely up to the customers but Ming said the end result is often quite different to the design seen on paper - "it looks much more attractive on skin."

Getting an ankle tattoo means standing still for a long time. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

A tattooist takes a break on the night shift. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

Most of his customers these days are men and women aged between 20 and 30. "Girls prefer smaller tattoos." It costs more for tattoos on the waist or parts of the back because the skin is more pliant there.

"The slightest movement here can affect the entire pattern. It's a complex process," Ming said.

There are many different styles of tattoo available and all of them, like the Japanese, Tribal, Old School and New School styles have different characteristics. Dragons, carp, and traditional samurai elements are often featured in the Japanese style.

"The Old School style was a European tradition with simple bold lines. In the old days, men would have their lover's names or national flags tattooed on them before they went to sea or went to war," explained Torli, the tattoo studio's Japanese manager. 

The New School style, which is currently popular with the young, merged the Japanese and European styles. "The designs are more intricate than Old School tattoos and more diverse elements are involved.

Tattoos need not be permanent but it is expensive and difficult to have them removed by laser therapy. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

Some tattoos are original and eye-catching. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

"Tattoos of Chinese characters are popular, especially with foreigners," Torli said. Foreigners often got a tattoo of a character or word or sentence as a memento of their trip here, Torli said. "Foreigners get tattooed just for fun, but Chinese are always more concerned about the meaning of the designs."