The impact of the riots on the prefecture has been severe, said its acting head, Mao Shengwu. The tourism sector has been particularly hit, Mao said.

The riots last month, beginning on March 14 in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet autonomous region, quickly spread to neighboring Tibetan-inhabited regions, including Gannan, Aba in Sichuan province and parts of Qinghai province.

Across the affected areas, rioters damaged government offices, schools, hospitals and other public facilities, and left burned shops in their wake.

The authorities have meanwhile advised foreigners and domestic travelers against going to Tibet.

Lhasa

The Potala Palace in Lhasa also reopened to the public from March 26, after it was closed for 10-days following the riots.

Pilgrims have slowly returned to the holy site, where prayer wheels turn once again and people are seen in the main square.

"There is still a lack of business because there are not so many visitors, but the number is increasing steadily," said Liu Jijun, owner of a Tibetan handicraft shop below the palace.

"I'm still confident of business opportunities here," Liu said. Tourists visiting Lhasa also said they could sense slight unease and the regional capital was far less lively than they had thought.

"There is almost no nightlife here, as many people are still afraid," said Wan Fan, a tourist from Shanghai.

"But the local people are really nice and have reminded us to be safe," she said.

Businesses in Lhasa are slowly recovering with strong government support, but sales revenues are still lower than before.

Danish menswear shop Jack & Jones was torched in the riots. It reopened on March 25, newly decorated, in downtown Beijing Middle Road.

Currently, its sales revenue is about 2,000 yuan a day. It was more than 8,000 yuan for the same period last year.

Shop manager Yu Dan remained optimistic.