"I Deliver Parcels in Beijing": Chinese Literary Sensation Reaches the U.S.
Hu Anyan, a former courier and now acclaimed author, wrote a best-selling memoir that vividly portrays the demanding world of parcel delivery in China. Through his book, he reflects on labor, technology, and the uncertain future of work.
The Journey of Hu Anyan
Over the span of his career, Hu held 19 different jobs in six cities across China. His roles ranged from selling bicycles and running a clothing store to working in a bakery, creating 3D architectural renderings, and completing night shifts in logistics warehouses before finally becoming a delivery worker.
The Making of a Bestseller
Hu, 46, turned his diverse work experiences into the memoir-style book I Deliver Parcels in Beijing. With straightforward storytelling, humor, and striking details, he captures daily encounters with harsh managers, angry customers, and the maze-like neighborhoods of modern Chinese cities.
“Readers were drawn to the stories of ordinary couriers who keep China's e-commerce machine running, often at great personal cost.”
Published in 2023, the book quickly became a bestseller in China. It resonated widely, offering readers insight into the lives of millions of delivery workers viewed by the industry as easily replaceable. Many saw their own struggles in Hu’s reflections on financial instability, limited social mobility, job insecurity, and monotonous labor.
Looking Abroad and Ahead
With an English translation by Jack Hargreaves set for release, Hu discussed his writing process, ideas about automation replacing couriers, and what he hopes international readers, particularly Americans, will take away from his work. The interview, originally published by Rest of World, was edited for clarity and length.
“Around 2009, I was running a women’s clothing store in Nanjing — a painful job,” Hu recalled, describing the early days that eventually led him to writing.
Author’s Summary
Hu Anyan’s book transforms years of grueling labor and personal struggle into a moving portrait of modern China’s working class, capturing resilience amid systemic change.