Pressing flowers - an ancient art form first used by British botanists in the 17th century - is becoming a popular hobby among young women in the city.Hundreds of people, mostly women, have been taking training courses in the art at the Everlasting Club on Shaanxi Road S., the city's biggest pressed flower shop.

　　"Cultivating flowers is my long-term hobby. Now, I am using desiccated flowers as art to decorate my home or for gifts to friends," said Chen Jie, who has been studying the craft for a year.

　　She is currently enrolled in the club's intermediate course and plans to continue to its expert class in the future because the art provides her with "a way to relax and personal space as well."

　　While the courses are expensive and time-consuming, hundreds of women, and a handful of men, have enrolled for it since the club was established two years ago, according to Yu Shan, who teaches at the club.

　　Pressing flowers is still a new hobby in Shanghai, and gaining popularity among women in their 20s and 30s, said Yu.

　　The courses cost between 600 yuan (US) and 1,000 yuan for six classes depending on the level, and students also have to pay for some of their supplies.

　　Roses, narcissus and chrysanthemums are the most common flowers used in the class, while most of the tools are imported from Japan.

　　While the art form is a hobby for most, a few have plans to make it a business, selling their pressed flowers, said Yu.

　　At the Everlasting Club, a pressed flower display sells for between 400 yuan and 1,000 yuan.