Delivery Rider Wins China’s Top Literary Prize

Wang Jibing, a 55-year-old delivery rider, has been awarded one of China’s top literary honors for his poetry book “Low Flight,” which chronicles the hardships of life on the road. The prize places a spotlight on the grueling realities of China’s on-demand economy, often unseen by consumers.

Wang became a delivery rider in 2019 after decades of precarious employment. Financial hardship forced him to leave school as a teenager. He later worked in construction, collected waste, and ran a street stall, all while continuing to read and write, posting his poems and essays online.

His poems offer a rare first-hand account of the delivery worker’s experience. One line from “Low Flight” reads: “Who says spreading your wings means flying high? Flying low is also flying.”

Speaking to Chinese media after the announcement, Wang said the attention has made him nervous and stressed. He intends to keep working as a delivery driver until he turns 60, describing the job as a source of fitness and a “down-to-earth life.”