Key points
- University of Edinburgh researcher wins the 2025 John Urry Article Prize for study on the everyday mobilities of metro passengers in Guangzhou
- The research explores how physical infrastructures and socio-cultural norms shape the commuting experience and ideas of ‘quality citizenship’ in post-reform China
Siying Wu, a PhD researcher in Human Geography at the University of Edinburgh, has been awarded the 2025 John Urry Article Prize for her exploration of everyday commuting in contemporary China.
The annual award, named after the pioneering co-founder of the Mobilities journal, recognises the year’s most significant article in the field. Wu’s winning piece was celebrated for its outstanding empirical and conceptual contributions.
Focusing on the metro system in Guangzhou, her research unpacks the concept of ‘squeezing in’. Rather than just looking at the physical reality of boarding crowded trains, her work dives into the emotional and bodily experiences of passengers. Through extensive field observations and interviews, she reveals how the daily commute is shaped by a complex mix of physical and social infrastructures.
The study highlights how the seemingly ordinary practice of “good ridership” in shared public spaces is deeply entwined with the broader concept of “quality citizenship” in post-reform China.
Upon receiving the award, Wu said: “I feel incredibly honoured to receive this reward and it is such an encouragement and motivation for me as an early career researcher.
“Getting this award feels very special because Professor John Urry’s work was a major inspiration for me when I first started this project several years ago.
“I also want to thank Professor Tim Cresswell and Professor Dan Swanton, my supervisors, and my fellow PhD colleague Manasa Gade for their invaluable support during the writing process.”