People's lifespan in Tibet Autonomous Region has nearly doubled in the past 46 years, going from 35.5 years in 1959 to 67, according to a local official.

"The figure is below the national figure of 71.8 years, but it's a vast improvement for Tibet," said Yugyai, an official in charge of health issues with the regional People's Congress.

The population of Tibet has increased from 1.14 million in 1951to 2.74 million, and 92 percent of the population is of Tibetan origin. There are more than 200,000 senior citizens aged over 60, accounting for eight percent of the region's total.

"With rapid economic and social development, the last 46 years have seen Tibetan people living longer and longer," said Yugyai.

Tibet covers more than 1.2 million square kilometers, approximately one eighth of China's total land area. It has the smallest population of province-level administrative regions in China -- about 0.2 percent of the nation's total.

Poverty is gradually receding. The number of people with an annual per capita net income of less than 1,300 yuan (US$157), the local poverty threshold, dropped to 1.07 million in 2004 from 1.48 million three years previously, a decrease of 28 percent, according to the regional statistics bureau.

The per capita net income of farmers and herdsmen, who account for more than 80 percent of the region's population, reached 2,075yuan (US$263) in 2005.

Over 89 percent of them are now covered by a government-sponsored medical system. For a yearly outlay of just 30 to 100 yuan (US$3.75 to 12.5), they are able to enjoy compensation of up to 30,000 (US$3,750) if they fall ill, said Yugyai.

The official also attributed the prolonged life expectancy to rising living standards, improved medical and health services and better general health.

Tibet has long benefited from preferential central government policies to improve medical facilities. Financial investment reached 250 million yuan (US$31.65 million) in 2005 alone, said the official.

Tibet had established 1,378 medical organizations, including 17special Tibetan medicine clinics, by the end of 2005.

Even in the town of Yumai, China's smallest town in terms of population, we have set up a hospital for 27 local residents, he said.

In addition, more and more meat-loving Tibetans have begun to change their eating habits in favor of a more healthy life style.

"We used to call people who eat vegetables 'grass-eaters', but now more and more Tibetans are getting used to having vegetables as often as ghee tea," said Zhoilha, a 78-year-old woman.

Zhoilha, who is a pious Buddhist, said she believed people can not live without Buddhas' blessings but she had to admit that doctors from the People's Hospital of Xigaze Prefecture had helped her live longer.

Zhoilha had suffered from gallstone for years. After she had the operation to remove the 'small troubles' in 2002, doctors encouraged her to begin eating more fruit and drinking plain water instead of meat and fatty ghee tea.

"Buddhism calls for a simple life and maybe I should make a fresh beginning from my stomach," said Zhoilha, adding that in 2004 she managed to go and worship at Potala Palace for the first time in 20 years.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2006)