Food Delivery Rider Wins China’s Lu Xun Literary Prize

Wang Jibing, a food delivery rider, wins the prestigious Lu Xun Literary Prize for his poetry, highlighting the struggles of blue-collar workers in China.

Wang Jibing has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning one of China’s top literary awards—the Lu Xun Literary Prize—for his collection of poems, titled Low Flight. This collection, inspired by the challenges faced by food delivery riders, marks a significant recognition for blue-collar workers in the literary world.

The 56-year-old Wang, who took on the role of a delivery rider in 2019, has gained considerable attention on social media for his creative works, including poems and essays. His win signals a growing appreciation for the literary contributions of workers in China’s sprawling gig economy.

Upon receiving the prestigious award, Wang expressed his feelings of nervousness and relief. “I held my breath and felt extremely nervous… Once it was revealed, everything was settled,” he shared with Global Times on July 15. He admitted that the media attention surrounding his win created a lot of mental pressure.

The monetary reward associated with the Lu Xun Literary Prize remains undisclosed, though it was approximately 100,000 Chinese yuan, or about $14,800, as of 2014.

Wang’s background is a story of resilience. Born in Jiangsu province, he had to leave school as a teenager due to financial difficulties. He worked various odd jobs, including construction and street vending, before becoming a food delivery man. Despite the hardships, his passion for reading and writing endured. Over the past decade, he has regularly shared his poems and essays online.

His poem, Man in a Hurry, went viral in 2022, inspired by an incident from 2019 where he experienced considerable frustration due to a wrong delivery address. Wang published his first poetry collection titled Man in a Hurry: Poems of a Food Delivery Rider in 2023, further showcasing his unique voice.

Although he has gained recognition in the literary sphere, Wang has no plans to leave his delivery job, stating, “Financially I don’t need this job to make a living, but I love the vibe of the work and it keeps me fit.” He added that he intends to continue working until he turns 60, emphasizing a down-to-earth approach to life, despite his newfound fame.

Low Flight, his latest work published in 2024, features insights gathered from interviews conducted with approximately 200 fellow delivery riders. One poignant line from his poetry states, “Who says spreading your wings means flying high? Flying low is also flying.” This reflects the shared experiences and struggles of his peers in the delivery profession.

The recognition of blue-collar workers in literature is becoming more prominent in China. Works like I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, a memoir by former courier Hu Anyan, and the autobiographical essay I am Fan Yusu, which captured the complexities of a migrant worker’s life, have gained significant popularity. These narratives resonate powerfully with the public, serving to highlight the voices of those often overlooked in society.

Lu Xun, after whom the prize is named, is widely regarded as one of the most important literary figures in modern Chinese literature. His works continue to inspire new generations, and characters from his stories, such as Kong Yiji, have become symbols of the disillusionment felt by many young people in contemporary China.