Chinese man covers himself in 460,000 bees

By Efrosini Costa

Chinese man covers himself in 460,000 bees
A Chinese honey merchant covered his semi-naked body in bees that collectively weighed more than 45 kilograms!

She Ping, a 34-year-old beekeeper from China’s southwestern Chongqing province, posed topless beside more than a dozen hives before the insects swarmed over his body.

“To be honest I felt very nervous, but I do it to promote my honey,” She told reporters.

“I’m used to dealing with bees… and started these activities when I was about 22” he explained.

She was stung more than 20 times during the 14-minute stunt.

The act is part of a global trend called bee bearding, where participants attempt to wear a mantle of bees weighing a substantial amount.

According to Guinness World Records officials, India’s Vipin Seth currently holds the world record for wearing bees, 61.4 kilograms to be exact.

But Chongqing has emerged as one of the world’s bee bearding hotspots. Not surprising considering China is home to the world’s largest production of honey.

Several other honey merchants in the province have taken part in similar attempts displaying their photographic evidence proudly in shopfronts in the city.

A couple in the country’s northwest were even reported to have been married while covered in ‘suits of bees’.

So how does someone lure bees to their body?

Bee bearding participants generally attract bees by placing a queen bee in a small cage that hangs from their body, the other bees promptly follow suit.

While She fell short of a wold record, with his attempt covering him in 45 kilograms of bees, he does hold a new record for carrying out this frightening stunt without any clothes.

“Of the people who do it naked, I’m probably the most awesome,” he said.

His advice for anyone else who wanted to take part in the exercise?

“The main preparation is avoiding taking a shower, especially avoiding using soap because it can excite the bees.”

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