The Inner Mongolian Bao Xishun (鲍喜; born in China in 1951), better known as Xishun or “Flagpole,” held the title of tallest man in the world from January 15, 2005, to August 7, 2007, and again from August 2008 to September 17, 2009. Bao Xishun’s height is officially measured at 7 feet 8.9 inches (236 cm). In September 2009, when Guinness World Records measured Sultan Kösen at 8 feet 3 inches (251 cm), the Turk surpassed Bao Xishun as the tallest living person.
A Naturally Grown Giant
Bao Xishun could be the world’s tallest ‘naturally grown’ giant in recorded history.
Chifeng City Hospital assessed Bao Xishun’s height to be 7 feet 8.9 inches (2.36 m) for the first time. Unlike John Rogan or Robert Wadlow (the tallest man in history), he did not suffer from a growth disease like gigantism. That’s one of the main reasons why Bao Xishun is still alive today, at the age of 71. Because most extremely tall people with gigantism often die at young ages, like Trijntje Keever and Zeng Jinlian.
Bao Xishun has rheumatism, although it is not connected to his height but rather to his habit of sleeping outside as a youngster.
In his country, Bao Xishun is known as “China’s first giant.” Two times as much fabric as is needed for the ordinary person is needed to outfit him (around 16 feet or 5 meters). On top of that, because of his extreme stature, Bao Xishun requires a lot of calories to maintain his weight. He eats as much as three people worth of food a day.
Due to his height, Bao Xishun faced challenges in finding a regular job, but he earned income through activities like taking photos with tourists and participating in TV programs.
Bao Xishun’s Early Life
Bao faced hardships in childhood, including limited access to education and clothing due to his exceptional height. Even today, he requires two walking sticks to be able to move around in his daily life.
Up until he was 15 years old, Bao Xishun was of average height. Then, he grew to 6 feet 3 inches (1.9 m) in a very short time. His height did not change much until the age of 20. At this time, his height had rapidly reached 6 feet 11 inches (2.1 m). In only five years, for reasons nobody could understand, he had become an incredibly tall man.
A basketball coach noticed Bao Xishun’s height and offered him a free position, leading him to briefly join the army’s basketball team. After serving for three years, Bao was medically released from the People’s Liberation Army due to rheumatism, which had been believed to have developed while he was playing the game for the army. After that, he moved back in with his mom in Inner Mongolia.
Bao Xishun returned to Inner Mongolia due to health challenges and continued living a difficult life on the grasslands. Due to financial troubles, Bao had to work a number of jobs to provide for his family. Until he was given a position as a receptionist at a restaurant, he had cut himself off from society after his mother’s death at age 40.
However, when the local news agency took notice of his extreme height, they signed Bao up for the Guinness World Record. Fortunately, Bao Xishun rose to prominence thanks to his height and even took on the role of “brand ambassador” for a company. So, things really have turned around for him.
When compared to Radhouane Charbib, the former record holder who is still alive, Bao Xishun is 6.3 inches (16 cm) taller than Charbib. On the other hand, he is 6 inches (15 cm) shorter than Sultan Kösen, currently the tallest living person.
He Once Saved Dolphins
In order to help remove plastic from the stomachs of two dolphins, vets approached Bao Xishun in December 2006. These dolphins unwillingly ingested the plastic, which then caused them to lose their appetite and feel down. When veterinarians were unable, Bao reached into the dolphins’ stomachs with his 42-inch arm (106 cm) and took out the foreign objects, ultimately saving the dolphins’ lives.
Jidi, the manager responsible for the Royal Sea World pool, verified that they enlisted the assistance of Bao Xishun from Inner Mongolia to effectively remove the debris when their initial efforts were unsuccessful. It was anticipated that the two dolphins would make a complete recovery.
This tale is reminiscent of the 1978 incident in which a California dolphin was saved thanks to the extra-long arm of American basketball star Clifford Ray (6 ft 9 in; 2.06 m), who is 74 today.
The Tallest Living Person for 3,5 Years
Bao Xishun was officially acknowledged by the Guinness Book as the tallest person in the world in August 2008, when the previous record holder, Leonid Stadnyk, declined to have his height remeasured.
Despite being taller than most, Bao Xishun struggled to find a partner, leading him to feel inferior and isolated. Fortunately, this didn’t last forever once he gained fame; on March 24, 2007, Bao Xishun married Xia Shujuan, a Mongolian salesperson. According to Beijing Daily’s report, Bao’s 28-year-old wife is half his age and hails from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia.
The announcement of Bao’s marriage was widely disseminated due to his global traction as the world’s tallest man at the time. In October 2008, at the age of 57, Bao Xishun defied the doctor’s advice and became a father; the couple had a boy.
Xishun wants his son to be at least a six-footer to play basketball and ultimately honor his country by being good at it.
The couple had to use a specially customized long bed due to the height difference. They were often seen enjoying a good life together on the streets.
