Brazil, who beat Turkey 2-1 in their opening Group C game, made just one change with Gremio defender Anderson Polga replacing Edmilson.
Manchester City’s Sun Jihai and Dundee’s Fan Zhiyi were the fall guys from China’s opening defeat to Costa Rica and both were relegated to the bench.
China’s much-travelled coach Bora Milutinovic was facing Brazil for the third time in the World Cup.
He lost 1-0 to the South Americans with Costa Rica at Italia 90 and by the same scoreline with the United States at USA 94.
He would do well to escape with such a narrow defeat this time and Brazil fans were expecting their side to win by several goals in this the first World Cup game to be staged in Seogwipo, where England drew with South Korea a couple of weeks ago.