ع
The Lu Xun Literary Prize committee awarded Wang Jibing for his poetry volume Low Flight in recognition of its grounded depictions of delivery work drawn from extensive conversations with riders across multiple cities. Published in 2024, the collection includes verses that capture both the pressures and the quiet dignity of the profession, such as the line “Who says spreading your wings means flying high? Flying low is also flying.” Wang told reporters he held his breath and felt extremely nervous until the result was announced, after which everything was settled.
Born in Jiangsu, Wang left school early because of family financial pressures and moved through construction jobs, waste scavenging and street vending before starting as a delivery rider around 2019. He maintained a lifelong interest in reading and began sharing his own poems and essays on social media, where his 2022 work Man in a Hurry gained national attention after it described a real incident during a delivery. That breakthrough prompted the release of his debut collection under the same title in 2023, setting the stage for the latest honour.
China’s delivery platforms have expanded rapidly since the pandemic, with the Ministry of Commerce data placing the number of active online delivery workers above seven million last year as e-commerce volumes continued to climb. The Lu Xun Literary Prize, created in 1986 and named after the foundational modern Chinese writer, carries a standard award of 100,000 yuan according to records from previous cycles. Wang’s success forms part of a wider pattern of blue-collar literary voices receiving mainstream acclaim within the expanding gig economy.
Industry assessments from research firms tracking platform labour note that delivery work remains physically demanding yet flexible, attracting participants who value its daily routines over purely financial gain. Wang has stated that although he no longer relies on the income, he enjoys the energy of the job and plans to remain active in the role until age 60 because it keeps him fit. He added in follow-up comments that he wants a down-to-earth life and the award will never change who he is.
Earlier examples of similar recognition include Hu Anyan’s 2023 memoir I Deliver Parcels, which became a bestseller by chronicling the realities of parcel logistics, and Fan Yusu’s widely discussed 2017 personal essay that first drew attention to domestic workers’ narratives. Literary observers have described these works as expanding the boundaries of contemporary Chinese writing beyond elite academic circles. Wang’s latest prize underscores how the experiences of millions in platform-based employment are increasingly finding expression in prestigious forums.
Officials associated with the prize have highlighted its role in celebrating diverse contributions to national literature, particularly those rooted in everyday labour. Wang continues to balance his riding shifts with writing projects focused on the same community that inspired Low Flight. Future volumes are expected to build on the same survey-driven approach that defined the award-winning collection.
