The New York Times looks at Beijing’s nascent tattoo culture:
ALTHOUGH many foreigners have been coming in for tattoos, the chair is usually occupied by Chinese, said Mr. He, who charges about $120 an hour, and has owned a Beijing tattoo shop for six years. “Tattoos let people create an identity and help give meaning to their lives,” he said.
A decade ago, tattoo parlors were rare in Beijing. Most Chinese tattoo artists are self-taught, having experimented on their own bodies or on willing friends. Because the industry is largely ignored by the government, tattooists must rely on their own knowledge regarding hygiene and safety issues.
