A passion tat's clear to see

I didn't need Maizi to speak to know where her passion lies. I couldn't fail to spot it - it was proudly emblazoned on her chest, a howling "evil panda". At her "Spring Tattoo" studio in Beijing, Maizi - real name Zhang Hangmen - was happy to elaborate

"I started tattooing in 2002," she said. "I learned by myself."

Her fascination with body artistry remains strong and she sees tattoos as a reflection of culture and history.