Wang Jibing, a 56-year-old food delivery rider from China, has been awarded the prestigious Lu Xun Literary Prize, one of the nation's highest literary honors. The recognition comes for his poetry collection, Low Flight, which vividly portrays the experiences and challenges faced by delivery workers within China's vast gig economy.
From Gig Worker to Literary Laureate
Wang's journey to national literary acclaim is a testament to perseverance. Born in Jiangsu province, he left school as a teenager due to financial hardship. Over the decades, he undertook various jobs, including construction work, collecting recyclable waste, and running a street stall, before becoming a food deliveryman around 2019.
Despite his demanding work schedule, Wang consistently pursued his passion for reading and writing. He gained initial online attention by sharing his poems and essays on social media, gradually building a dedicated following. His latest collection, published in 2024, incorporates insights from interviews and surveys he conducted with approximately 200 fellow delivery riders.
The Impact of 'Man in a Hurry'
Wang's rise to prominence significantly accelerated in 2022 when his poem, Man in a Hurry, went viral online. This particular piece was inspired by a real-life incident in 2019 where he spent hours attempting to complete a delivery after a customer provided an incorrect address. A year later, he published his first poetry collection under the same title, Man in a Hurry: Poems of a Food Delivery Rider.
Upon learning of his win, Wang expressed a mix of nervousness and relief to state media. Despite the significant achievement, he has stated he has no plans to leave his delivery job. He told the Global Times, "Financially I don't need this job to make a living, but I love the vibe of the work and it keeps me fit. I want a down-to-earth life and the award will never change who I am."
"Who says spreading your wings means flying high? Flying low is also flying."
— A line from Wang Jibing's collection, Low Flight
A Growing Voice for China's Working Class
Wang Jibing's success highlights a broader trend in China: the increasing recognition of blue-collar writers. Their works offer invaluable insights into the realities of working-class life, resonating with a wide audience. Notable examples include former courier Hu Anyan's bestselling memoir, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing (2023), and migrant worker Fan Yusu's autobiographical essay, I am Fan Yusu, which went viral in 2017.
The Lu Xun Literary Prize itself is named after Lu Xun, a towering figure in 20th-century Chinese literature, often regarded as the father of modern Chinese literature. Known for his satirical critiques of traditional society, Lu Xun's legacy continues to influence and inspire contemporary writers, including those who, like Wang Jibing, give voice to the experiences of everyday people.