Sweet Potato of Ailao Mountain

Sweet Potato of Ailao Mountain

　　Sweet potato thrives in humid conditions and grows along rocks and near water. The main peak area of Ailao Mountain features overlapping ridges, cloud-shrouded peaks, numerous valleys, and deep bamboo groves — an ideal environment for sweet potato growth. According to the *Xinping County Annals*: "Sweet potato, also known as pearl vegetable, is green in color, a wild woody plant that sprouts tender leaves only after flowering. Picked and made into soup, it tastes extraordinarily sweet and delicious." In the beautiful and enchanting scenery of early March in the Ailao Mountain region, no matter which village you visit, the hospitable Yi, Hani, and Kucong people all love to treat guests with delicious sweet potato soup. The sweet potato emits a faint fragrance, and the soup is fresh and sweet. As spring arrives and the wind turns dry, often causing chapped lips, sweet potato soup is a common dish on the tables of various ethnic groups in the Ailao Mountain area — helping to replenish bodily fluids and stimulate the appetite. Adding some fresh meat, tofu, or eggs to the soup makes it even more flavorful.