In brief
Wang Jibing, a food‑delivery rider in China, has won the Lu Xun Literary Prize for his poetry collection “Low Flight,” which reflects the everyday challenges of gig‑economists. The award signals a growing recognition of blue‑collar writers in a country dominated by a digital labor market. Despite earning the prestigious honor, Wang intends to continue riding until age 60, saying the prize does not change his life or job. The story underscores how ordinary workers are turning personal struggles into celebrated literary art.
A collection of poems written on napkins and in spare moments between deliveries, “Low Flight,” has earned Wang Jibing—the 56‑year‑old food‑delivery rider from Jiangsu province—the country’s most prestigious literary honour, the Lu Xun Prize.
Named after the founder of modern Chinese literature, the Lu Xun Prize is awarded only to works that offer profound insight into Chinese society. Wang’s poems, which stemmed from the daily grind of the gig economy, provide a voice for the millions of similar blue‑collar workers across the nation.
Wang, who began delivering food in 2019 after leaving school early to support his family, had been sharing his verses and essays on social media for years. In 2022 one of his pieces, “Man in a Hurry,” went viral after a delivery fiasco—an incident that inspired the piece—and led to a follow‑up collection in 2023 titled *Man in a Hurry: Poems of a Food Delivery Rider*.
Despite the honour, Wang said he will keep riding until he turns 60. “Financially I don’t need this job to make a living, and it keeps me fit,” he told Global Times. “I love the vibe of the work and the award will never change who I am.”
“Low Flight” is comprised of poems born from interviews with around 200 fellow riders, illustrating that flying low can be as meaningful as soaring high. Hard at heart, Wang describes the work as a “down‑to‑earth” life that won’t be altered by applause.
His win reflects a broader trend. In 2023, former courier Hu Anyan’s memoir *I Deliver Parcels in Beijing* became a bestseller, and 2017’s *I am Fan Yusu* captured online audiences worldwide. These works show that ordinary laborers are increasingly shaping China’s literary scene.
