Farmers look to tap root's growing appeal

Rising living standards and greater appreciation of healthy lifestyles have resulted in soaring demand for Maca, the latest 'miracle' plant, as Yang Wanli and Li Yingqing report from Lijiang, Yunnan province.

The human desire for longer life is insatiable, it seems. In the 1950s, life expectancy in China was about 40. In 2010, 60 years later, medical advances and higher standards of living meant Chinese people were expected to live to an age of 74.5 years, and by 2020, average life expectancy will be extended by a further two and a half years, according to official projections.

But that's still not enough for some people, who continue to look for ways of improving their physical condition and maintain as much health and vigor as possible. That passion has become a powerful driver behind the growing popularity of Maca, a plant native to Peru that's being touted as the latest "miracle" in China's booming health food market.