Food delivery rider Wang Jibing has won China’s prestigious Lu Xun Literary Prize for his poetry collection Low Flight, inspired by the struggles of gig economy workers. The 56-year-old, who began delivering meals in 2019, gained fame for his social media posts chronicling the pressures of the job.
From Odd Jobs to Literary Acclaim
Wang’s win caps decades of hardship, from construction work to scavenging, after leaving school as a teenager due to financial strain. His 2024 collection, Low Flight, draws from interviews with 200 delivery riders. One line reads: “Who says spreading your wings means flying high? Flying low is also flying.”
He told state media on July 15 that he felt “extremely nervous” upon learning of the award, which carries a cash prize of up to 100,000 yuan ($14,800). Despite the recognition, Wang plans to keep working until age 60, citing his love for the job’s energy and physical demands.
A Growing Movement of Blue-Collar Writers
Wang joins a wave of working-class authors gaining literary attention in China. Hu Anyan’s 2023 memoir I Deliver Parcels in Beijing became a bestseller, while Fan Yusu’s 2017 essay I am Fan Yusu went viral, forcing her to temporarily flee media attention.
The Lu Xun Prize’s Modern Resonance
The award honors Lu Xun, a 20th-century writer whose satirical works critiqued traditional Chinese society. His character Kong Yiji recently resurfaced as a meme symbolizing youth disillusionment amid China’s job market struggles.
