Food delivery rider writes poetry in spare moments, wins China's top literary award

Wang Jibing, a 56-year-old food delivery rider from Jiangsu province in China, wrote poetry on small pieces of paper in his spare time. His collection of poems, 'Low Flight', has now won him one of the country's most prestigious literary honours, the Lu Xun Literary Prize.

The award is named after Lu Xun, the father of modern Chinese literature . Wang's collection, 'Low Flight', published in 2024, is based on interviews and surveys of nearly 200 delivery riders, depicting the struggles, dreams and realities of gig economy workers .

Wang has been working as a food delivery rider for a long time. Before that, he worked various jobs, including construction worker, waste collector and pavement hawker . He had to leave school in his teens due to financial hardship but never lost his love for writing.

He has been publishing his poetry and essays on social media for over a decade. In 2022, a poem titled 'Man in a Hurry' went viral, earning him widespread recognition. His first collection, 'Man in a Hurry: Poems of a Food Delivery Rider', was published in 2023 .

Speaking to state media about winning the award, Wang said he was extremely anxious before the results were announced . When he heard he had won, he felt as if everything had stopped .

Despite the recognition, he has no plans to quit his job. Wang said he wants to continue delivering food until he is at least 60.

"Now I don't have to rely on this work to make a living. But I like the work environment. It keeps me physically fit and I want a life close to the ground. This award will never change me," he said .

Wang Jibing's achievement is seen as a new example of the rise of literary pursuits among working-class people in China. His success proves that it is not profession but perseverance and creativity that matter for the development of talent.