Chinese Food Delivery Rider Wins Prestigious Literary Prize

Wang Jibing, a 56-year-old food delivery rider in China, has won one of the country's most prestigious literary honors, the Lu Xun Literary Prize, for his anthology of poetry called 'Low Flight'.

His poetry documents the lives of gig workers, highlighting their frustrations, pressures, and aspirations.

There are around 16 million delivery riders in China, and Wang's work has gained national recognition, with one of his poems attracting 13 million views on Sina Weibo.

The recognition of workers' literature in China reflects a growing anxiety among the middle class about their economic future and the visibility of essential workers during the pandemic.

Wang's poetry emphasizes the dignity and resilience of gig workers, offering a raw and unmediated perspective on their daily lives.

The literary establishment in China still struggles to recognize socially rooted writing as literature in its own right, but Wang's award signifies the acknowledgment of new literary voices emerging from China's changing economy.