Party Leader's Two Sentences Lead to a Costly National Secret Project

Mao Zedong's "Dripping Water Cave" Villa is known as "the most expensive bed in the world." The image shows a glimpse of Mao Zedong's Dripping Water Cave Villa. (Screenshot from the web)

[People News] The origins of the Dripping Water Cave Villa: A national-level project was initiated based on "two sentences" from Mao Zedong.

Mao Zedong twice instructed the Hunan Provincial Party Secretary to build a villa for him.

In June 1959, after swimming in the Shaoshan Reservoir during a visit to his hometown, Mao told Hunan Provincial Party Secretary Zhou Xiaozhou that a “thatched hut” should be built in Shaoshan’s Dripping Water Cave as a place for him to live after retirement. In May 1960, Mao returned to Hunan and once again mentioned to the new Provincial Party Secretary Zhang Pinghua that Dripping Water Cave in Shaoshan would be an ideal location to build a house.

The first time Mao spoke to Zhou Xiaozhou, he described the idea modestly, referring to it as building a “thatched hut.” However, considering Mao’s status as the supreme leader of China, what kind of "hut" could truly accommodate Mao Zedong? Even if it were woven from golden threads, it might not suffice.

The second time, Mao told Zhang Pinghua that it would be “great to build a house” there. Given Mao Zedong’s position, it’s no exaggeration to say that his slightest whims could shake mountains and rivers. Moreover, the notion of this as “a place to live after retirement” raises questions. When exactly did Mao plan to retire? Did he ever truly consider stepping down? In reality, the Communist Party operates under a system of one-party dictatorship with no concept of retirement. Mao held absolute power until his death.

Thus, Mao’s seemingly casual remarks about “building a thatched hut” or “constructing a house” were turned into a drawn-out, enormously expensive, top-secret national project.

In the second half of 1960, the construction of the Dripping Water Cave Villa, codenamed “Project 203,” was launched as a classified operation. The project was completed in 1962. According to records, the entire operation was conducted under strict secrecy and executed by the PLA Engineering Corps. The secrecy was so thorough that even locals in Shaoshan were unaware of the project.

What the Dripping Water Cave Villa Looks Like

After more than two years of construction, the Dripping Water Cave project was mostly completed in 1962. The main complex consisted of three buildings, with Building No. 1 exclusively for Mao Zedong. This building included Mao's office, bedroom, and meeting rooms and served as his living and working quarters. The villa, a T-shaped, Soviet-style, blue-brick single-story house, featured enclosed corridors on two sides, blending Chinese and Western architectural styles. It was well-insulated, comfortable year-round, and designed for secrecy. Building No. 1 was the heart of the project and closely resembled Mao’s residence in Zhongnanhai.

In 1970, for safety reasons, a 100-meter-long air-raid shelter was built behind Building No. 1. The shelter was stocked with essential supplies and daily necessities year-round. It also included facilities such as a shockproof room and a command center. Both entrances to the shelter were fitted with lead-reinforced iron doors, each weighing several tons and capable of withstanding the impact of a medium-sized nuclear explosion.

Building No. 2, containing 24 rooms, was for central officials accompanying Mao and was directly connected to Building No. 1. Building No. 3, located over 100 meters from the first two buildings, housed security personnel and other staff. Additionally, a road was constructed connecting Mao’s childhood home to the Dripping Water Cave villa.

During the 1970 expansion, air-conditioning equipment was installed. At this time, Wang Dongxing, then director of the Central Office, personally participated in designing Mao’s new bedroom and bathroom to suit his living habits.

Mao Zedong’s “11 Days” Hidden in the Dripping Water Cave Villa

From June 18 to June 28, 1966, Mao Zedong stayed in the Dripping Water Cave villa for 10 nights and 11 days. Upon his arrival, Mao walked along Building No. 1, observing his surroundings and the lush mountains, expressing satisfaction with the villa.

During this time, even Liu Shaoqi was unaware of Mao’s whereabouts, knowing only that Mao had returned to Hunan. Zhou Enlai was the sole confidant privy to Mao’s location. Each day, Zhou sent files to Mao via a special plane from Beijing to Changsha, where they were transported by car to Shaoshan for Mao’s review.

Mao’s personal security was managed by Zhang Yaoci and the 8341 Unit, while external security was overseen by Gao Wenli, the Deputy Director of the Hunan Provincial Public Security Bureau.

According to Zhang Yaoci’s recollections, Mao did not meet with anyone during his stay. His days were spent reading documents, books, and newspapers, or deeply pondering issues. Zhang noted that when Mao was immersed in critical thinking, he refrained from even taking walks, and no one dared disturb him.

Despite the idyllic surroundings of this secluded retreat, Mao remained preoccupied with the chaotic state of the country and the aftermath of the Great Leap Forward. When he once asked Zhang Yaoci to check if the nearby Qingnian Lake was suitable for swimming, the clear waters were indeed ideal for a swim. However, Mao’s anxiety over the turbulent political situation left him no mood for leisure.

During those 11 days, Mao ventured outside only once. Accompanied by aides and in a wheelchair, he traveled just 300 meters. Surrounded by verdant hills and rippling waters, Mao sighed deeply before returning to the villa.

As Mao departed, he shook hands with the staff and, in his native Shaoshan dialect, instructed them:
“Take good care of the house! I’ll be back!”

Mao’s 11-day stay at the Dripping Water Cave villa went entirely unreported in the press. Subsequent news articles intentionally omitted the specific location. Even foreign intelligence agencies attempted to track Mao’s movements during this time but failed to determine the whereabouts of China’s top leader.

Villagers "Warned"

When Mao Zedong returned to Shaoshan, he passed through Dongmaotang, the ancestral home of his family. As the car drove by, Mao turned to look out the window and, after the car passed an S-shaped curve, couldn’t resist turning back for another glance. At that moment, several young girls collecting firewood saw the car. Curious, they peered inside. One of them, a sharp-eyed girl with the surname Mao, recognized Mao Zedong and excitedly ran home.

She eagerly shared the "happy news" with her father, Mao Jisheng. However, not long after, several public security officers arrived at their home and issued a warning: "You must not talk about this!" As a result, news of Mao Zedong’s return to Shaoshan did not spread.

Mao's Desire to Return Home Ends in Vain

Historical records reveal that by June 1976, Mao Zedong was gravely ill and deeply homesick. In August, when his condition slightly improved, Mao insisted on returning to the Dripping Water Cave to recuperate, but his request was denied by the central government. In September, Mao remained fixated on going back to Shaoshan. After repeated pleas, the Politburo finally approved his return to Dripping Water Cave on September 15. But Mao Zedong would not live to see that day.

On September 8, 1976, Mao Zedong’s last day alive, the event left an indelible impression on Dripping Water Cave’s caretaker, Liao Shiyu. That morning, Liao received a call from the provincial party office, informing him that Provincial Party Secretary Zhang Pinghua would visit Dripping Water Cave that evening to inspect the site in preparation for Mao Zedong’s return.

Liao was overjoyed, as Mao had not been back in 10 years. He believed this return was for retirement. Liao immediately gathered all staff to make arrangements. However, plans changed. By evening, Zhang Pinghua did not arrive. At around 11 p.m., Liao received a call saying Zhang would not come after all.

Little did Liao know, less than two hours later, at 12:10 a.m. on September 9, 1976, Mao Zedong passed away in Beijing, never to return to Shaoshan.

It is said that during Mao’s final days, he longed to return to Shaoshan’s Dripping Water Cave, his homeland, to rest in peace. In preparation, the central authorities had a plane on standby 24/7 to fly Mao to Shaoshan at any moment. Unfortunately, Mao’s deteriorating health made such a trip impossible. His body was frail, with tubes attached for medical support, and he relied on nasogastric feeding for nutrition. Thus, Mao Zedong’s record of sleeping at the Dripping Water Cave villa remains frozen at "ten nights."

The Three Major "Embarrassments" of the Dripping Water Cave Villa

1. Abuse of Power

Why did Mao Zedong, at the time, not directly tell the two Hunan Provincial Party Secretaries to build him a villa? Instead, he made vague and roundabout remarks. Likely, even Mao knew that this was not a justified or honorable request.

Although Mao was the supreme leader of the CCP, wielding immense power, he already had multiple official residences across the country. Building another villa in his hometown, especially during the Great Leap Forward that he personally initiated—a period that resulted in a nationwide famine with widespread starvation and even instances of cannibalism—was not authorized by any party rules, policies, or laws. His private instructions to Hunan officials to construct the villa were a blatant abuse of power, which by today’s standards would constitute a criminal offense punishable by law.

Another glaring example of this abuse of power was the use of PLA engineering units, including the renowned "Ouyang Hai Company," to construct the villa. The military's role is to defend the nation and resist foreign invasions. Using military resources for a civilian project entirely unrelated to defense was utterly absurd. No one should have such power, not even Mao Zedong.

2. Extravagant Spending

Records indicate that the total cost of the Dripping Water Cave project was between 100 million and 120 million yuan—a staggering amount in the 1960s. To put this in perspective, the construction of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, completed in September 1959, reportedly cost between 10 million and several hundred million yuan. By comparison, the Dripping Water Cave project was a massive financial drain.

Additionally, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall in Beijing undergoes minor repairs annually and major renovations every ten years. If this approach were applied to the Dripping Water Cave, which was completed 62 years ago, it would have required 62 minor repairs and six major renovations, costing an astronomical sum.

From 1962, when the villa was completed, to Mao’s death in 1976, the villa remained in a constant "standby state" for 14 years, as Mao could return at any time. This readiness incurred daily expenses such as: Constantly replenished fresh food supplies. Water and electricity bills. Salaries for on-site staff and security personnel. These costs over 14 years would have accumulated to an enormous amount.

In February 1982, the Dripping Water Cave Villa was transferred to the Hunan Province Shaoshan Management Bureau, with Shaoshan Hotel taking responsibility for its maintenance. Security was handled by military personnel (now the Hunan Armed Police Xiangtan Detachment, 1st Company). In September 1984, the villa was finally opened to internal visits by officials of county-level rank and above, effectively ending its history as a financial black hole.

3. Disregard for People's Livelihood

During the construction of the Dripping Water Cave villa, Mao’s Great Leap Forward had caused a three-year nationwide famine (1959–1961). During this period, millions died of starvation across the country, and horrific incidents of cannibalism occurred in many regions. An estimated 40 million people starved to death.

The 700 million Chinese citizens suffering from this disaster could never have imagined that their "Red Sun" leader was secretly building a luxurious villa for himself in his hometown. Mao’s millions of fellow Hunan natives could not have imagined that, while they were on the brink of starvation, they would still have to tighten their belts to pay for Mao’s Dripping Water Cave villa.

Historical records show that the funds for constructing the villa primarily came from the Hunan provincial budget—a bitter irony given the dire circumstances of the time.

How Many Villas Did Mao Zedong Have?

• Lushan’s "Lulin No. 1" Villa: Constructed in 1960 and completed in 1961, this villa was built specifically for Mao's visits to Lushan. It covers a building area of 2,700 square meters, with the courtyard spanning over 10,000 square meters. According to tour guides, the Lulin Lake in front of the villa is an artificial lake where Mao liked to swim during his stays.

• Meiling No. 1 at Wuhan’s East Lake Hotel: Also known as the "Comrade Mao Zedong Villa," this scenic spot in East Lake’s Meiling area was Mao’s residence outside of Zhongnanhai for the longest period of time.

• West Suburb Hotel in Shanghai: Shanghai Party Secretary Ke Qingshi built this grand-scale West Suburb Hotel (Project 414) for Mao, including gardens and landscaping, covering over 1,000 acres. Despite its size, Mao only stayed there a few days over several decades.

• South Suburb Hotel in Jinan: Built in the early 1960s, this villa occupies 1,160 acres with a construction area of 115,800 square meters. It is known as the "Shandong Diaoyutai" and was built for Mao’s visits to Shandong.

It is said that Mao had at least 15 villas across the country.

A Grim Context: Notably, most of these villas were built during the early 1960s, a time when Mao’s Great Leap Forward led to a massive famine in China. 38.6 million people starved to death, and in many regions, horrific incidents of cannibalism occurred.

Had the funds used for these villas been saved, how many lives could have been spared? While Mao executed "Red Little Devils" Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan for corruption to curry favor with the people, he never held accountable the officials who built these extravagant villas for him. Instead, he embraced their gestures, enjoying the privileges without hesitation.

Conclusion

Mao’s numerous villas scattered across the country likely have the highest vacancy rate in the world, representing an astounding waste of resources.

The Dripping Water Cave villa, personally authorized by Mao, reportedly cost between 100 million and 120 million yuan. From its completion to Mao’s death, he only stayed there for 10 nights over 14 years. Ignoring other operational, maintenance, and security costs, the estimated cost of one night’s stay at the villa is roughly 10 million to 12 million yuan (based on the value of the currency in the 1960s).

In this sense, Mao Zedong’s Dripping Water Cave villa could be considered the "most expensive bed in the world."