Former NBA player Yao Ming dwarfs Dunedin Railways staff during New Zealand holiday

Former NBA player Yao Ming pays a visit to Dunedin Railway Station. Photo / Facebook

Former NBA player Yao Ming towered over Dunedin Railways staff during a visit to the city on his New Zealand holiday.

The 2.29m tall retired player was snapped on the platform at Dunedin Railway Station this morning.

A caption to the photo, posted on the Dunedin Railways Facebook page, said: "We had a very special visitor at Dunedin Railway station today - basketball star Yao Ming was very obliging in allowing some of our staff to have a photo with him."

Even tall Kiwis were dwarfed by the towering basketballer.

Shotover Jet worker Nick Simpson, who is 1.87m tall, posted a photo next to Ming.

Simpson wrote: "We had the privilege of meeting the big fella at our wk as well, I'm 6' 2" and he made me feel short!!"

Shanghai-born Ming played for the Shanghai Sharks in China. He later went on to play for NBA team Houston Rockets before retiring in 2011.

We had a very special visitor at Dunedin Railway station today - basketball star Yao Ming was very obliging in allowing some of our staff to have a photo with him.

Posted by Dunedin Railways on Tuesday, July 19, 2016