In Kunshan, Jiangsu province, Wang Jibing juggles food delivery with his passion for poetry. Last week, his latest poetry collection won the Lu Xun Literature Prize, China’s top honor for literary work, in the poetry category. At 56, Wang has written over 5,000 poems during his eight-year career as a courier, covering nearly 100,000 miles in the process. Known as the ‘delivery poet,’ he draws inspiration from the quiet dignity of the working class.
‘Flying’ at a Low Altitude
Wang’s third collection, Low Altitude Flight, continues his exploration of themes surrounding blue-collar workers. He highlights the 10 million people working in China’s gig economy. In one poem, he writes, “Who says spreading your wings means flying high? Flying low is also flying.” His work doesn’t shy away from life’s challenges, but celebrates resilience, motivating readers to persist and nurture their interests.
“As the old saying goes, eight or nine out of 10 things in life will disappoint us. We are always losing something. Yet whatever else we lose, we must not lose our passions. Passions lead to faith, and faith gives us strength,” he writes.
For Low Altitude Flight, Wang interviewed over 140 delivery workers to capture the industry’s realities. He stated to China Media Publishers’ Daily, “I believe the greatest value of writing may not be limited to expressing one’s own inner self, but being able to speak out for others. I long to do something meaningful.”
The recent accolade has increased Wang’s recognition, but he remains grounded. “I want to live a down-to-earth life, and the award will never change who I am. I will keep writing and sharing ordinary people’s life stories through literature,” he mentioned to the Global Times.
Despite his success, Wang intends to continue his delivery work until he turns 60. He expressed, “Financially, I don’t need to do this job to make a living, but I love the vibe of the work and it keeps me fit.” His previous collections, The Person in a Hurry and I Clumsily Love This World, are also highly regarded.
Understanding the Lu Xun Literature Prize
The Lu Xun Literature Prize, awarded every four years by the China Writers Association, is a prestigious literary honor in China. The prize covers poetry, essays, literary criticism, translation, and short stories. Named after Lu Xun (1881-1936), a key figure in modern Chinese literature, the award has generally favored established writers over grassroots ones.
This year’s prize value is not disclosed, but the previous known prize amount was 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,800) in 2014. Newsweek reached out to the China Writers Association for more details.