Bao Xishun, a 7-foot-9-inch herdsman from Inner Mongolia, has finally tied the knot. His bride is a 28-year-old saleswoman from his hometown who stands at a mere 5 feet 6 inches tall.

The couple wed in a traditional ceremony at the tomb of Kublai Khan in Erdos city in northern China. More than 2,000 people turned out for the wedding, including relatives, locals and a large crowd of media persons, the AP reports.

Bao had sent advertisements for marriage around the world and received replies from more than 20 women, but he decided upon Xia Shujuan.

Xishun, 56, was confirmed as the world's tallest human being by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2005.

Bao claims to have been of normal height until he was 16, when he experienced a growth spurt for unknown reasons. He reached his present height seven years later.

Bao gained international attention last December when he was credited with saving the lives of two dolphins that got sick after swallowing some plastic at an ocean aquarium in northeast China.

With an arm length of 41.7 inches, Bao easily managed to reach his hand into the stomach of each dolphin and pull out the plastic pieces, which veterinarians had not been able to remove surgically.