A kung fu nun has put a twist on the traditional martial artist's route to enlightenment through superhuman feats, by towing eight cars using just her hair.
Buddhist Zhang Tingting had refused to shave her head after becoming a nun two years ago, claiming her hair is the source of her kung fu mastery.
But the 52-year-old from Kaifeng city in China's Henan province had been denied official status as a nun due to her attachment to her hair.
And so Zhang decided to have a swansong for her locks with the follicular feat on the streets of her home town.
She towed more than eight tons of automotive metal using just her plait, getting 30m into an attempt on the 100m world record before getting into a tangle.
Then the 35-year veteran of martial arts shaved her hair in the company of monks and nuns, completing her initiation into the monastery.
Zhang, who said she will devote her life to the monastery but will continue to practise other forms of martial arts, took a philosophical view of the record attempt.
"For me it's not a question of success or defeat," she said.
"Although I didn't pull them far enough, I am still happy. It's all experience."
