Poet on a scooter: the food delivery man receives the highest literary award

A 57-year-old food delivery rider from Jiangsu Province in eastern China has been awarded one of the country's highest literary honors, the Lu Xun Prize, for his poetry collection Low Years. The award, given every four years by a panel of experts, recognizes Wang Jibing’s work as part of China’s literary canon, typically reserved for professional writers. Wang, who grew up in a poor rural family and left school during his teenage years, has worked a variety of physical jobs, from construction to waste collection and running a small stall, while maintaining a deep love for literature. He initially published his poems in journals before turning to social media. Wang became a food delivery rider in 2019, at the age of 50. His job, which demands constant movement against the clock, opened a wellspring of inspiration. In the brief pauses between orders, while waiting at elevators and red traffic lights, he rode more than 150,000 kilometers on his scooter and wrote over 6,000 poems. One of his poems, Man in a Hurry, gained widespread attention online in 2022 after being inspired by a real-life incident when he was fined for delivering late due to an incorrect customer address. The poem reads: “Those who race against time have no seasons; for them there is only one stop and the next.” His prize-winning collection Low Years is the result of extensive research into the world he knows best. To capture the raw reality of life in China’s growing gig economy, Wang conducted interviews with more than 140 fellow delivery riders. He wanted readers to understand the challenges they face. The book gives voice to those often overlooked by society, the quiet majority, as he calls them. A particularly resonant verse reads: “Who says stretched wings mean flying high? Even low flight is still flight.” Wang’s success reflects a broader shift in Chinese literature toward giving more attention to writers from the working class. Despite his sudden fame, Wang remains humble and committed to his profession. He emphasizes the importance of staying grounded, as contact with real life is key to his creative process. He acknowledges that some of the attention comes from his unique identity as a “poet-delivery rider” and accepts praise cautiously. “I don’t attribute all this solely to literature,” he admitted in one interview, adding that he believes he has a long journey ahead as a writer. Wang’s rise began with his transition to food delivery in 2019. This role, demanding constant motion against the clock, provided him with a continuous stream of inspiration. During brief pauses between deliveries, while waiting at elevators and red traffic lights, he traveled over 150,000 kilometers on his scooter and composed more than 6,000 poems. One of these, Man in a Hurry, became an internet phenomenon in 2022. It was inspired by a real-life experience when he was fined for late deliveries caused by an incorrect customer address. The poem states: “Those who race against time have no seasons; for them there is only one stop and the next.” To capture the unfiltered truth of life in China’s expanding gig economy, Wang interviewed more than 140 fellow delivery drivers. He aimed to help readers better understand the challenges they face. The book gives voice to those often overlooked by society, the quiet majority, as he describes them. A particularly powerful verse reads: “Who says stretched wings mean flying high? Even low flight is still flight.” Wang’s achievement highlights a growing trend in Chinese literature to focus more on writers from the working class. Despite his unexpected fame, Wang remains modest and dedicated to his trade. He stresses the need to stay grounded, as interaction with real life is crucial to his creative output. He acknowledges that much of the attention stems from his unique status as a “poet-delivery rider” and accepts praise with caution. “I don’t attribute all this solely to literature,” he stated in one interview, noting that he believes he has a long path ahead as a writer. Wang Jibing, born into a poor rural family, left school during his teenage years and took on various manual labor jobs, from construction to garbage collection and managing a small stall, while nurturing his passion for literature. Initially, he published his poems in journals before turning to social media. His breakthrough came in 2019 when he became a food delivery rider. This job, requiring relentless movement against the clock, offered him an endless source of inspiration. While waiting at elevators and red traffic lights, he covered over 150,000 kilometers on his scooter and wrote more than 6,000 poems. One of these, Man in a Hurry, gained massive online traction in 2022 after being inspired by a real-life situation where he was fined for late deliveries due to an incorrect customer address. The poem reads: “Those who race against time have no seasons; for them there is only one stop and the next.” To portray the harsh realities of life in China’s burgeoning gig economy, Wang conducted interviews with over 140 fellow delivery drivers. He wished for readers to grasp the difficulties they encounter. The book provides a voice to those frequently ignored by society, the quiet majority, as he refers to them. An especially impactful verse reads: “Who says stretched wings mean flying high? Even low flight is still flight.” Wang’s success mirrors a wider change in Chinese literature, increasingly focusing on writers from the working class. Despite his sudden acclaim, Wang stays humble and devoted to his profession. He underscores the significance of remaining grounded, as engagement with real life is essential to his creative process. He admits that some of the recognition arises from his distinctive identity as a “poet-delivery rider” and accepts praise with care. “I don’t attribute all this solely to literature,” he remarked in one interview, stating that he believes he has a long road ahead as a writer.