China has the most number of people in the world. So it was fitting that the world's biggest condom was displayed in the south Chinese city of Guilin.

The novel move to attract public attention on population control was launched by the city's birth control department in cooperation with a local condom factory.

The yellow PVC (polyvinyl chloride) condom is so huge that it can envelop the Xiangjiang, or fragrant river, hotel in Guilin, Xinhua news agency reported.

Organisers also distributed condoms and brochures on sexual and reproductive health for free to domestic and foreign tourists on Friday.

Liang Jinggui, vice-manager of the Guilin Latex Co, which sponsored the event, said the company accounted for one-third of the country's condom exports.

The company has applied to the publisher of the Guinness Book of Records to include the condom in the book as the world's biggest, the report said.