Beijingers spent an average of 66 yuan per meal per person at restaurants in the first three months of the year, an increase of 20 percent over the same period last year, a report by a popular restaurant review website has shown.

The report, released by Dianping.com, also said e-coupons were becoming more popular.

Li Xue, from the website's public relations department, said the figures were collected from its website and from about 38,600 restaurants around Beijing.

The website receives about 12 million comments each day and 200 million clicks every month from people all over China, Li said.

Shanghai, however, topped the list in spending of China's six major cities, with 72 yuan being the average.

Beijing and Shenzhen were in equal second, followed by Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Nanjing. Shanghai also led the pack with a year-on-year increase of 30 percent.

The report also showed clicks and downloads of e-coupons reached 4.8 million and 600,000 for the quarter, an increase of 58 percent and 71 percent respectively. E-coupons can be either downloaded into mobile phones or printed out.

But another restaurant review website cast doubt on Dianping.com's findings.

Zang Li, CEO of Fantong.com, said: "Sixty-six yuan is a little bit high. I estimate it to be no more than 55 yuan."

He said e-coupons targeted mainly the younger generation, who enjoyed using the latest technology to buy things and even go out to eat.

But e-coupons have some weaknesses, being subject to changes in the market and the whims of the managers.

The recent problems with KFC is an example, Zang said. Thousands were infuriated after the fast-food giant refused to take coupons it had posted on its website, saying they were obsolete.

A Beijing resident surnamed Du said that 66 yuan was understandable.

"Food and drink seem to have become more expensive since Spring Festival," she said.

Another Beijing resident Wang Lei, 24, said 66 yuan was more than what he would spend at a restaurant.

He said that every time he treated a friend to a dinner, he would get e-coupons before going to the restaurant.

"Food is very expensive nowadays. You will definitely go over the budget without e-coupons.

"They are very convenient. So, why not?" he said.

METRO