Tibetans develop a taste for the West

"Living in Tibet can be just as convenient and modern as other areas of China, especially after great improvements to the transportation infrastructure and communication networks," she said.

"People can order food on their phones and go to quality restaurants that use fresh ingredients sourced from throughout China and the world."

In a region with an altitude of 4,000 meters on average, diners can enjoy Nepalese beef masala, hamburgers, Japanese beef, quality coffee as well as authentic Tibetan and Sichuan cuisine.

KFC now has more than 5,000 branches on the Chinese mainland since entering it in 1987. Before opening its restaurant in Lhasa city center on March 8, 2016, it was operating in every Chinese province and region, except Tibet.

The fast-food giant considered expanding into Tibet in 2004, but Yum! Brands - KFC's parent company - called off the plan, saying it did not think it would be profitable to operate in the region.

Although high logistics costs have made food at KFC in Tibet more expensive than in other parts of China, its branch in Lhasa, the regional capital, is always packed during the lunch and dinner hours.