The second seed, who had lost all of the pair’s previous seven meetings, triumphed 6-2, 6-2 in 72 minutes at the Olympic Green Tennis Center.

Sharapova made a triumphant Grand Slam return after a 15-month doping ban by beating Halep in the first round of the US Open in August.

But 39 unforced errors meant the 30-year-old, competing at the China Open for the first since she won the title in 2014, struggled to make an impact on the match. 

Next up for world number two Halep is Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, who ousted defending champion Agnieszka Radwańska of Poland in the evening match.

Kasatkina prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and 32 minutes.

French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia booked her place in the round of 16 today by defeating Australia’s Samantha Stosur 6-3, 7-5.

Joining her is world number 15 Caroline Garcia of France after she overcame Belgium’s Elise Mertens 7-6, 6-4.

In the men’s draw, world number eight Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro to reach the quarter-finals.

The third seed won 7-6, 7-5 to set up a clash with Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, who was leading Great Britain’s Aljaž Bedene 6-0, 4-0 when his opponent retired with a knee injury.

Elsewhere, eighth seed Nick Kyrgios of Australia defeated Germany's Mischa Zverev 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Kyrgios was given a warning from the umpire after smashing his racquet at the end of the first set, but he soon regained his composure and went onto claim victory.

Awaiting him in the quarter-finals is Belgium’s Steve Darcis, who overcame Serbia’s Dušan Lajović 6-3, 6-4.