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Tallest, Shortest Men Cross Paths

Inner Mongolia's highest-profile resident shakes countryman's tiny hand

By Greg Atwan, Newser User

Posted Jul 14, 2007 8:51 AM CDT

(Newser) – Honeymooning giant Bao Xishun made time yesterday to make history. Bao, the tallest man in the world, shook hands with a fellow Inner Mongolian who's seeking certification as the world's shortest man. Bao, a 7-foot-9 livestock herder who married a 5-foot-6 woman on Thursday, grinned as he was introduced to 2-foot-4 He Pingping.

Guinness awarded Bao, 56, his superlative last year, the Daily Mail reports, but He, 19, may be in for an uphill battle: The current record-holder, Lin Yih-Chih, stands 2-foot-2. The meeting organizer tells ITV News that He—who wore a tux and red bow tie for the encounter—had long dreamed of meeting Bao.

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

The world's tallest man, Bao Xishun, who stands 2.36 meters (7 feet and 9 inches), shakes hands with He Pingping, who only measures 73 centimeters (2 feet and 5 inches),in Baotou, China's Inner Mongolia... (Associated Press)

The world's tallest man, Bao Xishun, who stands 2.36 meters (7.9 feet), shakes hands with He Pingping, who only measures 73 centimeters (2.4 feet),in Baotou, China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Friday,... (Associated Press)

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Tallest, Shortest Men Cross Paths