A 42-year-old Chinese farmer could become a local hero after luring over 26kg of bees onto his largely unprotected body at the weekend.

Wang Dalin was competing against 20-year-old beekeeper Lv Kongjiang in a 'bee bearding' contest in Shaoyang of the PRC's Hunan Province.

Onlookers watched in amazement as the two men, wearing only shorts, goggles and plugs up their noses, enticed bees to land on their bodies as they stood on scales to measure their efforts.

While the brave pair has created a buzz they're still a long way off Guiness record holder Mark Biancaniello, who wore over 39kg of bees in 1998.