Fast food giant KFC opens outlet in Tibet

Locals form long lines in the new KFC restaurant in Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region, on Wednesday, its second day of business.[Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]

KFC has become the first Western fast food giant to open a branch in the Tibet autonomous region.

After its doors opened on Tuesday in Lhasa, more than 1,000 customers came to eat, according to store manager Yu Zhengqing.

It remained crowded on Wednesday, with locals forming long lines inside the restaurant and kids posing for photos in front.

"KFC finally came!" said one diner.

Yu said they expect the store, which covers more than 500 square meters, to serve an average of 1,000 customers on normal days.

Food materials, including frozen chicken, are flown in from Xi'an, in neighboring Shaanxi province, which adds to the cost "and explains why the menu in Lhasa is priced higher than outlets in the other inland cities", Yu said.

A sandwich meal with chicken wings, cola and French fries is 40 yuan ($6.10) in Lhasa, while it is 31 yuan in inland cities.