“I Deliver Parcels in Beijing”: Chinese literary sensation reaches U.S.

“I Deliver Parcels in Beijing”: Chinese Literary Sensation Reaches U.S.

Hu Anyan, once a courier and now a best-selling author, has turned his personal experiences in various jobs across China into a compelling exploration of work and human endurance. His memoir-style book, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, captures the rhythms of modern labor and the lives behind China’s e-commerce boom.

A Life of Many Jobs

Across six cities, Hu has worked in 19 different roles — from selling bicycles and running a clothing store to baking, producing 3D architectural renderings, and spending long nights in logistics warehouses before eventually taking up parcel delivery.

Writing from Experience

An avid reader, Hu writes in a relaxed, vivid style that mixes humor with realism. He recounts tense meetings with demanding managers, encounters with angry customers, and the exhausting maze of massive housing complexes he traversed daily.

Social Commentary and Recognition

When the book came out in 2023, it resonated deeply with readers in China. Many saw their own struggles reflected in his depictions of job insecurity, limited mobility, and the feeling of anonymity in a fast-moving economy.

“Readers connected not only with the story of the courier, but with the broader experience of uncertainty,” Hu noted.

Global Reach and Reflection

Now translated into English by Jack Hargreaves, the book is reaching American readers. Ahead of its release, Hu spoke about his literary path, the challenges of automation, and his hope that readers abroad will better understand the human cost of convenience in the digital age.

“Around 2009, I was running a women's clothing store in Nanjing — a painful job,” Hu recalled.

Author’s Summary

Hu Anyan’s memoir offers a sharp, human look at China’s labor economy through personal experience, showing how dignity and perseverance endure amid relentless modernization.

Rest of World — 2025-11-04