Although his 55-year-old mother won't eat any meat except mutton and beef, Zhaxi Toinzhub, a newly graduated college student, likes crab and fish, traditional taboo foods for Tibetans.

    Restricted by Tibetan Buddhism, the traditional diet of Tibetans has many taboos. Aquatic food such as fish is considered inviolable and cannot be eaten.

    But now the dietary habits of Tibetans, mainly composed of "zanba", a staple food made of roasted highland barley flour, butter, beef and mutton, are undergoing a deep change, as seafood has become one of a popular dish for many Tibetans.

    Every dinner, a seafood restaurant in Lhasa, capital of West China's Tibetan Autonomous Region, sees all its seats occupied anda long line waiting at the door.

    "I like the spicy crabs at this restaurant very much. They are cooked in the Sichuan style, and more delicious than beef and mutton," said Zhaxi Toinzhub.

    "All our seafood is transported by air from Chengdu, capital ofSichuan Province, which is famous for its spicy and delicious cooking style, so all seafood at our restaurant is fresh," said the owner of the restaurant.

    "Although the prices are a little higher because of the transportation expenses, business has been booming as more Tibetans become interested in fresh seafood," said the boss.

    Like Zhaxi Toinzhu, many Tibetans especially the young have a more favorable attitude to cuisines from other places.

    Vegetables, previously regarded as "grass" by many Tibetan herdsmen, have become common on Tibetan tables.

    "As we know vegetables can provide many necessary vitamins and are helpful to keep in good shape. My family eat more vegetables and fruits than before," said Lhamo, a well-educated Lhasa resident.

    The daily per-capita vegetable consumption in Tibet is 0.6 kg, while that of farmers is 0.3 kg, much higher than in the past whenmost Tibetans ate no vegetables at all.

    With rising disposable incomes, Tibetans spend more money on dining out, triggering a growth in restaurants specializing in different cuisines.

    Data provided by local statistics bureau indicates the turnoverof restaurants in the Tibet Autonomous Region reached 680 million yuan (81.93 million US dollars) in 2003.

    The annual per-capita disposable income in Tibet reached 8,052 yuan (970 US dollars) last year, 5 percent higher than 2002. The annual per-capita consumption increased from 2002 by 15 percent to7,343 yuan (884.70 US dollars) in 2003, of which food was 3,232 yuan (389 US dollars). Enditem