Using the clustering and MANCOVA methods,this paper analyses the factors affecting the rural cooking energy utilization and also tests the “energy ladder” theory in poverty-stricken counties.The result showed that income may affect the cooking energy utilization in poverty-stricken counties,but it is not the main factor.In fact,kinds of rural cooking energy are affected by biomass richness,energy endowment,land erosion,education of labor,governments’ behavior,transportation and market conditions.Therefore,vicious circle between energy scarcity and poverty in poverty-stricken areas will be prevented and energy ladder will be crossed through developing new energy,improving the educational level for rural labors and perfecting transportation and market conditions.