A 56-year-old food delivery worker, who composed verses on scraps of paper during breaks between his shifts, has been honoured with one of China’s most prestigious literary accolades.
Wang Jibing was awarded the Lu Xun Literary Prize, named after the figure widely regarded as the father of modern Chinese literature, for his anthology titled Low Flight. The 2024 collection explores the daily hardships and systemic pressures faced by couriers within the nation’s vast gig economy.
Wang, a native of Jiangsu province, was forced to abandon his education as a teenager due to financial difficulties. Before becoming a delivery rider around 2019, he spent decades performing manual labour, including construction work, scavenging for waste, and operating a street stall, reports BBC.
Speaking to the state media outlet Global Times on 15 July, Wang admitted that the intense media scrutiny surrounding his win had caused significant mental strain. “I held my breath and felt extremely nervous… Once it was revealed, everything was settled,” he remarked regarding the announcement.
His award-winning work was informed by surveys and interviews he conducted with approximately 200 fellow delivery riders. One notable line from his poetry reflects his perspective on his station in life: “Who says spreading your wings means flying high? Flying low is also flying”.
Wang’s literary ascent began in 2022 when his poem Man in a Hurry went viral. The piece was inspired by a frustrating 2019 incident where an incorrect address provided by a customer led to a delayed delivery. This initial success resulted in the 2023 publication of his first book, Man in a Hurry: Poems of a Food Delivery Rider.
While the current value of the prize has not been made public, it was recorded at 100,000 Chinese yuan (£11,000; $14,800) in 2014. Despite the financial windfall and critical acclaim, Wang intends to continue working as a courier until he reaches the age of 60.
He noted that while he does not strictly need the job for income, he enjoys the physical activity and the “vibe” of the work. “I want a down-to-earth life, and the award will never change who I am,” he said.
Wang is part of an emerging cohort of Chinese blue-collar workers achieving literary recognition. Other prominent figures include Hu Anyan, whose memoir I Deliver Parcels in Beijing became a bestseller, and migrant worker Fan Yusu, whose 2017 autobiographical essay I am Fan Yusu became an internet sensation.
The prize’s namesake, Lu Xun, remains a significant cultural figure in China, known for his satirical critiques of traditional society. His works have seen a resurgence in popularity among younger generations who use his characters to express their own disillusionment with the modern job market.
