Tradition sits alongside changing tastes in Lhasa

It had been five years since I last visited Lhasa, capital of the Tibet autonomous region, and I couldn't wait to go to the traditional Tibetan teahouse I love. As soon as I stepped into the crowded premises in the morning, I knew nothing had changed.

Locals sat side by side on long wooden benches, tucking into fried pastries stuffed with yak meat for a hearty traditional breakfast and drinking sweet milk tea in small glasses.

For a top-up, they placed a 1 yuan (15 cents) note on the table as a sign to the waitresses. Then, one of them came over with a jug and replenished the empty glasses with tea.