A special gala celebrating the lives and work of food delivery riders and couriers was held on Friday evening in Changsha, Hunan province, becoming the first event of its kind dedicated to China's growing delivery workforce.
Titled I Am a Rider, the gala featured songs, poetry, and comedy inspired by the daily experiences of delivery workers. Interactive segments showcased their professional skills, from estimating package weights to two decimal places to carrying bowls of soup across a balance beam without spilling them.
The event also highlighted the personal stories behind the profession.
Lei Haiwei, a former delivery rider who won the 2018 season of the TV program Chinese Poetry Conference, recalled carrying a poetry book in his delivery box while waiting for orders. "Being a delivery rider gave me confidence," he said. "I proved I could do one thing well, and that encouraged me to compete."
Delivery worker Yuan Ke shared how volunteering to deliver free meals to elderly people living alone inspired him after growing up with his grandmother. More than a dozen riders at his delivery station have since joined the initiative.
Another rider, Long Tiancheng, who donated hematopoietic stem cells to save a stranger's life, displayed a thank-you letter from the recipient. "Saving a life is the biggest thing I can do," he said.
The gala also featured Wang Jibing, widely known as the "Delivery Poet", who spoke about taking his poems to readers in Italy earlier this year through a documentary chronicling his journey from delivery rider to published poet.
Changsha is expanding support for delivery workers by building or upgrading 2,773 rider service stations this year, offering places to rest, charge phones, drink water, and heat meals, while also improving access to education and medical services.
Riders attending the event said the gala reflected growing public recognition and respect for their profession.
"Now the whole society is paying more attention to us frontline workers," Huang Bo, a courier with 14 years of experience, said. "We feel recognized and respected. There is a real sense of happiness and pride in what we do."