Chemical components and some physical proeprties of fresh, defrosted and dried yams(Dioscoreab batatas) were determined to obtain basic data for high quality yam processing. Fresh yam showed 81.79% moisture and 15.24% N-free extract. The cohesiveness and adhesiveness of defrosted yam homogenate were significantly higher than those of fresh yam homogenate. Free sugars of yam were mainly composed of sucrose, rhamnose, fructose and glucose, and the contents of fructose and glucose were apparently decreased by hot air drying. Linoleic(45.64%), oleic(8.32%), and arachidic acids(7.40%) were major fatty acids of yam. Hot air drying caused a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids and an increase in saturated acids. Hot air-dried yam powder showed higher gelatinization properties than freeze-dryed yam powder, such asinitial pasting temperature, temperature at maximum viscosity, and viscosity at different parameters. Hot air-dried yam powder showed higher Hunter parameter b and ΔE values and lower L value than freeze-dried one.