Hu AnYan was born in Guangzhou, China, in 1979. After graduating from secondary school he joined the workforce, moving around between places and odd jobs to make a living: hotel waiter, convenience store clerk, courier, night shift worker and many more. In 2009 he began to post some writing online, and became a full-time writer after an essay went viral during a COVID lockdown.

"One of China's most remarkable new literary talents."
--Edward White, Financial Times

"Quippy and delivering some much needed humanity to the specter of delivery work."
--Sam Franzini, Our Culture

"[I Deliver Parcels in Beijing's] star is [Hu Anyan's] voice . . . thanks to this sensitive translation of the author's distinctive deadpan soul . . . He's also funny."
--Kirkus Reviews

"With the great acuity of his personal perspective, Hu Anyan dissects every layer of the life of the worker, and how the system gradually alienates individuals by erasing their differences. He sharply analyzes his own status, slowly reclaiming his identity, and ultimately recovers his right to self-determination."
--The Beijing Review of Books

"This is not an attempt to spy on the 'low classes, ' nor is it the uplifting story of a delivery driver writing his way to fame . . . this is about a person constantly questioning what it is that makes him human."
--People magazine (人物杂志)

Publisher: Astra House

Pub date: 2025-10-28

Length: 336 pages