While the art of tattooing has been known in China for centuries, it has remained relatively uncommon, generally reserved for hardened criminals, rather than 18 year old Hello Kitty-crazed girls. But in recent years, tattoos have become increasingly popular with both young Chinese and with tourists wanting a permanent reminder of their time here.

The rise in popularity of all manner of body-modification has been mirrored by a growing number of tattoo studios, eager to cash in on the trend. While tattooists in the UK are overseen by the Health and Safety Executive, and in the US, bound by state regulations, China has no such regulatory bodies, leaving amateur tattooists free to practice in terrifyingly unhygienic environments. The ensuing health risks are enough to deter even the most ardent tattoo junkie from getting inked in China.

In the nine years she has been inking the masses, Zhuo Dan Ting has earned a reputation as one of the most talented and respected tattoo artists in Shanghai. She first opened a small studio in Harbin before relocating to the Pearl of the Orient and opening the aptly named Shanghai Tattoo.

Described as an “oasis in the desert” of China's dire hygiene reputation, Ting ensures scrupulous standards of hygiene are met at the studio. “Health and hygiene should be the paramount concern when getting a tattoo,” she says. “Equipment needs to be sterilised and needles need to be disposable and only used once.”