Food Delivery Rider Wins China's Top Literary Prize
Tuesday, 2026/07/21223 words3 minutes2132 reads
Wang Jibing, a food delivery rider and poet from Kunshan in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, has been awarded the poetry category of the ninth Lu Xun Literary Prize for his collection "Low Flight," it was announced on July 15, 2026.
The Lu Xun Literary Prize represents one of China's most prestigious literary honors, established in memory of the renowned writer Lu Xun. The ninth edition acknowledged 35 works spanning seven distinct categories, placing Wang's achievement within a highly competitive literary landscape.
Since becoming a food delivery rider in 2019, Wang has cultivated a unique creative practice, composing poetry during the fragmented intervals between orders—while waiting for elevators or customers. His work draws authentically from his professional experiences and captures the everyday realities of ordinary individuals, offering a perspective rarely represented in mainstream Chinese literature.
Remarkably, Wang has produced over 6,000 poems while covering more than 150,000 kilometers in the course of his delivery work. His recognition has generated considerable discussion precisely because major literary prizes have traditionally been associated with professional, established writers rather than working-class individuals.
This development reflects the increasing visibility and legitimacy of grassroots literary voices in contemporary China. While Wang's recognition does not alter the fundamental pressures inherent in delivery work, it demonstrates that experiences derived from ordinary occupations can meaningfully contribute to and enrich the nation's literary discourse.
