1978- 1982 major in Chinese language and literature, Chinese Department, Sun Yat-sen University (in the meantime, he was the president of Sun Yat-sen University Student Union and the chairman of Guangdong Federation of Students).
1982- 1985 reporter from Guangdong Branch of Xinhua News Agency (during which: 1984.02- 1984.07 studied at the Central Party School)
1985- 1987 Deputy Director of the Editorial Department of Guangdong Branch of Xinhua News Agency
1987- 1993 deputy director of the general office of Guangdong provincial party Committee
1993- 1996 Deputy Secretary General of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee (director level)
1996- 1998 Secretary-General of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Director of General Office
1998-2003 Member of the Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Secretary-General and Director of General Office
2003-2003 Member of the Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda Department
2003-2007 Deputy Secretary of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee
2007-Vice Chairman and Deputy Secretary of Party Group of Guangdong Provincial Political Consultative Conference (during this period: February 2007 to May 2007, Deputy Secretary of Guangdong Provincial Committee, Vice Chairman of Guangdong Provincial Political Consultative Conference and Deputy Secretary of Party Group)
From 2007 to 20 10, Vice Chairman and Deputy Secretary of the Party Group of Guangdong Provincial Political Consultative Conference (during this period: from February 2007 to May 2007, he served as Deputy Secretary of Guangdong Provincial Committee, Vice Chairman and Deputy Secretary of the Party Group of Guangdong Provincial Political Consultative Conference; 2007.05—20 10.02 Vice Chairman of Guangdong Provincial Political Consultative Conference and Deputy Secretary of the Party Group)
In March 2008, he was appointed as the deputy director of the 11th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Committee for Overseas Chinese from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
On February 20 10, Cai Dongshi resigned as the vice chairman of CPPCC due to his age.