Summary The honey merchant from Chongqing covered himself in bees that weighed more than 45 kilograms.
BEIJING (AFP) - A Chinese beekeeper covered his semi-naked body in more than 460,000 bees for a publicity stunt aimed at selling more of his honey, he told AFP Thursday, using a technique known as "bee bearding".
She Ping, a 34-year-old honey merchant from the southwestern Chinese metropolis of Chongqing, covered himself in bees that collectively weighed more than 45 kilograms (100 pounds) in a display for a group of French photographers on Wednesday, he said.
Bee bearding is a global pursuit, and Indian Vipin Seth holds the world record for wearing a mantle of bees weighing 61.4 kilograms, according to Guinness World Records official video channel.
Participants generally attract the bees by placing a queen bee in a small cage hanging from their body.
Pictures of She s stunt show him posing topless beside more than a dozen blue hives, before the insects swarm over his body, which appears to be protected only by a plastic bag placed over his head.
"To be honest I felt very nervous, but I do it to promote my honey," She said, adding: "I m used to dealing with bees... and started these activities when I was about 22."
Chongqing has emerged as a hotspot for bee bearders, with several other local honey merchants taking part, and honey shops with signs showing them covered in the insects visible in the city.
A pair of beekeepers in northwest China got married while covered in suits of bees, reports said in 2009.
"It hurt but I didn t dare to move," She said, adding that he was stung more than 20 times during the 40-minute stunt.
"The main preparation is avoiding taking a shower, especially avoiding using soap because it can excite the bees," he said.
China is one of the world s major producers of honey, though its exports have been banned in several countries due to fears of counterfeiting.
She admitted that his attempt fell short of a world record, but claims the record for carrying out the stunt without any clothes.
"Of the people who do it naked, I m probably the most awesome," he said.
