The last tattoo

April 09, 2007

The ancient tradition of tattooing is becoming obsolete for women of China's ethnic Li, an indigenous group living on the Hainan Island. China's modernisation is causing many cultures and traditions of China's 56 ethnic minorities to fade away. The Li, whose history spans more than 2,000 years, were able to live an isolated life on the island, allowing them to develop their own unique customs and practising tattooing for women. But the tattooing tradition is on the verge of being wiped out.