The body of He Pingping, the world's shortest man according to the Guinness World Records, was escorted to his hometown in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday, two weeks after his sudden death in Italy.

"Our parents have wept every day since Pingping's sudden death. The procedures for getting him back home have been complicated and have taken some time," said Liu De'en, He's brother-in-law.

He's parents travelled to Baotou City on Friday to escort the coffin back to his hometown in Huade County, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia, where his fellow villagers will hold a funeral for him.

He Pingping stood 73 centimeters tall when he died at the age of 21 on March 13 in Rome, Italy, where he was taking part in a television show.

"Pingping was changing clothes when he felt pain in his heart. He was rushed to the hospital," said Liu, who also acted as Pingping's agent.

"We were all shocked at his death. He had not had heart problems before, and he had quit smoking last year," Liu added.

Craig Glenday, the Guinness World Records editor-in-chief, said He was "an inspiration to anyone considered different or unusual" and "showed us that, despite the challenges we face, we can still make the most out of life."

"Pingping could only speak his local dialect, not standard Mandarin, but he had a very cheerful character, and he liked to make funny faces, which made him very popular among audiences," said Liu.

He said it was Pingping's second trip to Rome. Italian audiences were familiar with him after watching him in local television programs last year.

"Pingping's first passport was issued in 2007, and he had been frequently invited to go on stage in foreign countries. The visa to Rome this time was on the last page of his passport," Liu said, falling into a long silence.

The passport showed He had been to America, Britain, Italy, Spain and had made five trips to Japan.

Liu said Japanese audiences would call his name, "Pingping," when meeting him on the street.

He's sister He Lihua said Pingping had secretly told his family he wanted to have a girlfriend and marry like a normal man.

Pingping has two elder sisters, both of normal height. He weighed only 500 grams at birth. He was diagnosed with primordial dwarfism.

"His mother could not breast-feed him since his mouth was too small. He stopped growing at the age of 18 and his height had stayed at 73 cm ever since." Liu added.

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