The Beijing courier who went viral: how Hu Anyan wrote about delivering parcels – and became a bestseller

A Beijing Courier's Tale: Unpacking China's Gig Economy and the Human Cost of Success

For Hu Anyan, delivering parcels was not just about getting packages to their destinations – it was an exercise in survival. As a courier in Beijing, he faced the harsh realities of China's gig economy, where workers are often left to fend for themselves with little support or security.

Hu's job involved making deliveries every four minutes, with couriers paid as little as 17p per parcel. However, the task was far more complex than that of their UK counterparts. He had to wait while customers tried on clothes and repackaged rejected items, all while dealing with customers who were increasingly demanding and unreasonable.

Despite the challenges, Hu found himself drawn to the world of online shopping, which seemed to be growing in popularity at an alarming rate. As a courier, he watched as people struggled to make ends meet, often relying on multiple jobs just to get by. This lack of job security and financial stability took a toll on his own mental health, with Hu recalling feeling "irritable, grumpy, resentful" as he navigated the cutthroat world of online shopping.

Hu's experiences as a courier offer a glimpse into the lives of China's gig workers, who are often overlooked in discussions about the country's economic boom. He worked alongside millions of internal migrant workers, people who moved from rural areas to cities in search of better opportunities but faced extreme insecurity and discrimination.

One of the most striking aspects of Hu's story is his transformation from a disillusioned worker to a writer. After a blog post he wrote about life as a courier went viral, attracting attention from the literary world, Hu began writing in earnest. The success of his book has brought him financial stability, but he remains committed to living a frugal life.

Hu's memoir, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, offers a searing critique of China's gig economy and the human cost of success. Through his own experiences, he sheds light on the struggles faced by millions of workers who are struggling to make ends meet in a rapidly changing world. His writing is unflinching and honest, offering a unique perspective on the challenges faced by ordinary Chinese people.

As Hu reflects on the impact of his book, it's clear that his story is not just about China's gig economy but also about human dignity and freedom. In an era where work dominates life, Hu's memoir offers a powerful message about the importance of finding purpose beyond our jobs and making connections with others.

Hu's story is also a testament to the power of cross-cultural exchange. As his book is translated into English for the first time, it promises to introduce foreign readers to the realities of life in China. The author hopes that this translation will promote two-way communication, allowing both domestic and international readers to understand each other's perspectives.

Ultimately, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing is a story about love, despair, and the human spirit. As Hu writes, "Love amid despair – this is the light that illuminates life."

China's gig economy is kinda harsh on workers like Hu Anyan... He's delivery parcels around 24/7 but still has to deal with crazy customers all day! The pay is super low, just 17p per parcel, which is basically minimum wage. And the worst part? They don't have job security or any benefits at all! That's so not fair. But what I love about Hu's story is that he turned his struggles into a book and found success as a writer. He shows us that even in tough times, we can find purpose and make connections with others. It's like, work shouldn't be the only thing that defines us. We should have time for love, friends, and stuff too!

This whole gig economy thing is so messed up, man! Like, 17p per parcel? That's insane! I mean, I know some people might say it's just a job and we should be grateful for it, but come on! You can't put a price on human dignity, right?

And what really gets me is that these couriers are expected to be super efficient and deal with all this drama from customers. It's like, they're not even getting paid enough to care! Hu's story is a total eye-opener, though. I mean, who knew being a courier could be so mentally draining?

I'm also loving the fact that his book is finally getting some international attention. Like, we need more stories like this coming out of China to help people understand what's really going on in the country. And it's awesome that Hu is using his platform to promote cross-cultural understanding – that's something we can all get behind!

But, at the same time, I'm a bit skeptical about how much change this book will actually bring about. Like, will people really start caring more about gig workers and their struggles? Or will it just be another thing on their radar until the next big issue comes along? Only time will tell, I guess!

I'm so over how outdated this forum is . But anyway, back to the article... I mean, have you guys noticed how China's gig economy just keeps on growing and growing? It's like a never-ending cycle of exploitation. People are working themselves into the ground for pennies, and it's not even like they're getting any benefits or security. Hu Anyan's story is heartbreaking - he was literally surviving as a courier because he had to .

And what really gets me is how the system just perpetuates this cycle of poverty. The government talks about economic growth and progress, but what about the human cost? It's all so one-sided. And don't even get me started on the mental health implications... it's like, we're supposed to be living in a society where people can thrive, not just barely survive.

I do love that Hu found his voice through writing and is now making a name for himself. That's some powerful stuff . But still, it's a shame more voices weren't being heard from within the gig economy itself before he decided to speak out. Maybe this book will spark some real change? Only time will tell .

so china's gig economy is just another example of how people are being exploited for the sake of success... who needs job security or mental health when you can make a few pence per delivery? and isn't it wild that this guy, hu anyan, became a writer because his blog post went viral? like, we should all strive to be famous for sharing our mundane experiences on the internet . but seriously, it's a shame more people aren't speaking out about these issues... maybe if we all just wrote our feelings on a blog and became international bestsellers we'd have some change

I feel so bad for ppl like hu anyan who has to deal with such low pay & demanding customers all day . its crazy that he's still struggling despite his success as a writer . i think its awesome that hes using his platform to shed light on the struggles of gig workers in china . im also loving that hes prioritizing frugality over material stuff . his story is like, super inspiring & relatable at the same time . it makes me wanna think about how my own work impacts ppl's lives & maybe find ways to make a positive change .

People are forgetting that behind every parcel delivery there's a person Hu's experience as a courier is not just about getting packages delivered on time, it's about struggling to make ends meet He's lucky to have written a viral blog post that changed his life But what about all the others who are still stuck in this gig economy limbo? It's like they're invisible We need more stories like Hu's to shed light on this issue and spark change

I was just thinking, have you guys ever noticed how coffee shops are so comfy to sit in for like 2 hours without feeling guilty ? Like, I was there yesterday and I just sat there reading a book and people-watching for ages. They had this one guy sketching the whole time and it was actually really entertaining to watch . And then I started thinking about how that's kind of what Hu Anyan did when he wrote his blog posts - he found a way to express himself in a way that brought him comfort, even when the gig economy was hard on him .

I mean, don't get me wrong, it's amazing that people like Hu are speaking out about these issues and advocating for change. It just made me think of how we all need those creative outlets sometimes to cope with our own struggles . Anyway, I'm definitely going to check out this book now!

The way they make us feel like we're just robots, delivering stuff for pennies... It's sad really, but also kinda inspiring that someone like Hu Anyan turned his experience into something beautiful. His story shines a light on the struggles of China's gig workers and it's not easy to read. We should care about what's happening in these lives, you know?

This guy HU ANYAN is literally living proof that China's gig economy is straight outta control I mean, 17p per parcel? That's like a whole day's worth of subsistence for some people They gotta wait while customers mess around with their clothes and whatnot... it's no wonder the guy was feeling super down about his job And don't even get me started on the mental health implications The fact that he had to resort to multiple jobs just to make ends meet is insane I'm glad he found a way out of it by writing, but it's crazy that it took something as drastic as going viral for him to be taken seriously

this china gig economy is straight up exploitative hu anyan's story is like the ultimate expose of how workers are being treated like dirt 17p per parcel? that's insane! and the mental health toll it takes on people? devastating what's worse is that this system is still going strong, like, millions of workers are stuck in this cycle of poverty and stress and then you've got guys like hu who get to write books about their experiences and become "success stories" meanwhile, the rest of us are just trying to make ends meet

Man, China's gig economy is getting out of hand ! These couriers are literally running themselves into the ground just to make ends meet . 17p per parcel? That's insane! You'd think people would care more about their workers than just churning out deliveries for profit . And what's with all these internal migrant workers who are barely scraping by in cities, only to face extreme insecurity and discrimination . It's like, can't we just treat each other with a bit of respect and compassion?