- Wang Jibing, a food delivery rider, has been awarded the prestigious Lu Xun Literary Prize for his poetry collection, Low Flight, which celebrates the lives of ordinary workers.
- Wang's collection, Low Flight, published in 2024, draws inspiration from interviews with over 200 delivery riders, reflecting the challenges of China's gig economy.
- Wang gained initial recognition in 2019 after a frustrating delivery incident led him to write the viral poem, Man in a Hurry.
- He was awarded the Lu Xun Literary Prize on 15 July 2026, marking a significant achievement in his literary career.
- Wang, who left school at 14 due to financial hardship, has worked various jobs including construction and scavenging before becoming a delivery rider around 2019.
- Despite winning one of China's highest literary honours, Wang plans to continue his delivery job until he is 60, stating he enjoys the work.
- The Lu Xun Literary Prize is awarded every four years by the China Writers Association and is considered one of the country's highest literary honors.
Wang Jibing, a 56-year-old food delivery rider from Jiangsu province, has been awarded the Lu Xun Literary Prize for his poetry collection, Low Flight, which captures the essence of ordinary workers' lives in China's gig economy. Wang's journey began after a frustrating delivery incident in 2019 inspired his viral poem, Man in a Hurry, which gained him initial recognition.1234568
Wang's collection, published in 2024, is based on interviews with over 200 delivery riders and reflects the challenges faced by the 10 million workers in China's booming gig economy. Despite his newfound fame, Wang plans to continue his delivery job until he turns 60, stating, “I love the vibe of the work and it keeps me fit.” He emphasizes the importance of giving a voice to ordinary people through his writing.
The Lu Xun Literary Prize, awarded every four years by the China Writers Association, is one of the highest literary honors in China, traditionally given to established writers. Wang's win signifies a shift towards recognizing grassroots voices in literature, as blue-collar workers increasingly gain prominence in the literary world. He believes that “the greatest value of writing may not be limited to expressing one's own inner self, but being able to speak out for others.” Wang's dedication to his craft is evident, as he has penned over 5,000 poems while covering nearly 100,000 miles as a courier.
As he continues to write, Wang remains grounded, stating, “I want to live a down-to-earth life, and the award will never change who I am.”
“His winning collection 'Low Flight' features poems inspired by conversations with over 200 fellow delivery riders, reflecting the struggles of China's gig economy. Wang, who left school at 14, gained initial fame in 2019 with his viral poem 'Man in a Hurry' after a frustrating delivery incident.”
The Independent
