The historical ‘cave-dwelling conversation’ between Mao Zedong and democratic figure Huang Yanpei in 1945 continues to resonate across decades, posing a fundamental question about political sustainability: How can a ruling party escape the historical cycle of rapid ascent followed by abrupt decline? This philosophical inquiry, first contemplated by an American student encountering Yan’an through literature, found contemporary resolution during an immersive journalistic expedition to the revolutionary heartland in autumn 2025.
Amidst the thunderous spectacle of Hukou Waterfall, where the Yellow River’s mighty currents crash against gorge walls, the metaphorical weight of historical transitions becomes palpable. Here, where dynastic rises and falls have physically unfolded, the Communist Party of China’s enduring governance reveals its dual foundation: external democratic supervision complemented by an internal mechanism of disciplined self-correction.
The initial answer emerged in 1945 when Chairman Mao emphasized democratic oversight and the mass line, asserting that only through people’s supervision would government remain diligent. This principle guided China through monumental struggles toward historical national advancements. Yet contemporary governance demands additional safeguards—thus emerged the second answer: self-reform.
President Xi Jinping’s November 2021 declaration that the Party had provided this ‘second answer’ through century-long struggle, particularly post-18th National Congress practices, finds tangible expression in Yan’an’s landscape. From revolutionary-era cave dwellings to modern apple orchards, the analogy becomes clear: just as sweet apples require meticulous pruning and pest control, effective governance necessitates preemptive problem-solving and institutional discipline.
The CPC’s current governance framework demonstrates this through rigorous anti-corruption campaigns, strict implementation of the eight-point decision on conduct improvement, and zero-tolerance policies toward misconduct. As the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection convenes its fifth plenary session, the Party prepares to intensify these efforts throughout the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), ensuring disciplinary mechanisms support socioeconomic development.
This dual approach—external supervision and internal reform—addresses Huang Yanpei’s historic concern while offering global relevance. The Yan’an dialogue ultimately transcends Chinese context, challenging political systems worldwide to consider what constitutes lasting, people-centered governance capable of self-correction and disciplined evolution.