Wang Jibing, a 56-year-old food delivery worker, has earned one of China’s most significant literary honors, the Lu Xun Literary Prize. His award-winning collection, titled Low Flight, draws directly from the demanding daily experiences of gig economy workers. Wang spent years sharing his writing on social media before gaining widespread recognition.
Born in Jiangsu, Wang faced significant economic challenges throughout his youth, working diverse jobs such as construction and street vending. He began his current role as a delivery rider in 2019. Despite these professional hardships, he maintained a commitment to reading and writing. His 2022 poem, Man in a Hurry, gained massive attention online, setting the stage for his subsequent book releases.
Low Flight, published in 2024, stems from personal interviews Wang conducted with roughly 200 other delivery drivers. Even with his new literary fame, Wang insists he will not leave his delivery job. He plans to continue working until age 60, noting that the profession helps him stay physically active and grounded. Wang’s success reflects a broader trend of blue-collar workers in China gaining notice for sharing authentic narratives about their working lives, similar to other notable authors like Hu Anyan and Fan Yusu.