[sonicl]

The world's tallest man, whose search for a bride covered the world, ended up marrying a woman from his home town nearly half his age and more than two feet shorter, Chinese media reported on Wednesday.

Bao Xishun, 56, a 2.36-metre (7-ft, 9-inch) herdsman listed by Guinness World Records as the tallest living man, married a 29-year-old saleswoman, the Beijing News said. Both come from Chifeng in Inner Mongolia.

"After sending out marriage advertisements across the world and going through a long selection process, the efforts have finally paid off," the newspaper said.

Bao reached his height in a seven-year spurt that began in his teens and which doctors have yet to explain, according to Guinness. After a career in the army, where he was recruited for a basketball team, he returned to Inner Mongolia. He now herds livestock and hires himself out for publicity stunts.

In December, Bao saved the lives of two dolphins by reaching deep into their stomachs with his 1.06-metre (42-inch) long arm to pull out pieces of plastic, according to Chinese media.