MORE than 200 students at Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce have applied to take a course in how to use a Chinese abacus.

Such lessons were once mandatory at the university, but they were phased out about 20 years ago as interest in the ancient calculating device waned.

“We’re really surprised by how many students wanted to enrol on the course,” said Wu Haitao, the tutor behind the idea to bring back the lessons.