China now home to tallest, shortest men

BEIJING, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- China is now home to both the world's shortest and tallest man thanks to 57-year-old Bao Xishun, who stands 7 feet, 9 inches tall, Guinness World Records says.

The Mongolian herdsman had lost his title to Leonid Stadnyk of Ukraine and his 8-foot-5-inch frame, but had the honor returned to him by the record publishers after Stadnyk refused multiple measurement requests, CNN reported Thursday.

The return of the "Tallest Living Man" honors to China means the country now can be credited with housing the tallest and shortest of humanity.

A few hundred miles away from where Bao lives a man named Ping Ping resides, CNN said. The news network said Ping is on record as the shortest man in the world thanks to his 2-foot, 4-inch frame.