Lu Yao

Lu Yao
Born	Wang Weiguo (1949-12-03)3 December 1949 Qingjian County, Shaanxi, China
Died	(1992-11-17)17 November 1992 Xi'an, Shaanxi
Occupation	Writer
Notable works	Ordinary World
Notable awards	Mao Dun Literature Prize

Lu Yao (Chinese: 路遥; 1949–1992), born Wang Weiguo (Chinese: 王卫国), was a Chinese writer. He was born on 3 December 1949 in Qingjian County, Shaanxi Province, and died on 17 November 1992. He had six siblings and grew up in a very poor family. He began writing novels when he was a college student, and graduated from Chinese Department of Yan'an University in 1973. After graduation, he became an editor of Yanhe magazine. In 1982, Lu Yao published his novella "Life", which was made into a film in 1984. It was at this time that he started to become well-known across China. In 1991, Lu Yao finished his most famous work, Ordinary World, which won the Mao Dun Literature Prize. His writing was closely related to his own life and experiences, and focused mostly on young people from his native Shanbei striving to change their lives.