Inside the grueling life of Beijing's food-delivery couriers
A 20-year-old Beijing rider works 13-hour shifts, racing against tight deadlines and heavy penalties, earning about $45 a day.
Qi Yuesen, a 20-year-old courier in Beijing, has only taken one day off in two months while completing 13-hour shifts that involve racing between cafés and apartments to meet delivery windows sometimes as brief as 20 minutes. He often accepts overlapping orders, risking traffic violations and fines that can instantly cut his income, which averages about $45 for a day of 28 deliveries covering 68 kilometres. The Chinese gig economy now encompasses roughly 44 % of the workforce, with many young people drawn to flexible jobs after layoffs or debt, according to Angelia Li of the University of California.
Workers face declining piece rates, tight algorithmic deadlines, and mandatory selfie checks that add to the pressure. Zeng Xianwu, another Beijing rider, left construction for the same reason, citing unreliable pay in his former trade. While some riders find the work preferable to previous jobs, the combination of low wages, intense competition, and constant monitoring raises concerns about long-term sustainability.
