'Inspired' farmer builds home on top of 50ft tree

A Chinese farmer has built a fully functioning house at the top of a 50ft tree.

The house - which sits atop a jujube tree and is connected to the ground by a long wooden staircase - features a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and a lounge complete with a television.

Xiong Yuhu, 63 - of Xingping village, Yaojiang County, Hunan Province - says he was inspired by the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing.

He said: "The Bird's Nest Stadium looks like a bird's nest on the ground. I just thought why not build a real bird's nest in a tree."

However, while Xiong is a fan, his wife Wang Su'an isn't and refuses to enter because she is scared of heights.