Alexander Levy fired an opening 66 to set the clubhouse target on day one of the Shenzhen International.
The Frenchman has an excellent record at Genzon Golf Club, firing a 62 en route to his first European Tour title at the Volvo China Open here two years ago, and showed all his skills as he opened up a two-shot lead over Eduardo de la Riva on Thursday.
Levy missed his first three cuts of the season but has not looked back since, securing a second-placed finish at the ISPS HANDA Perth International in February and setting the early pace at the Real Club Valderrama Open de España last week.
That opening 66 was the lowest round of the tournament during a devilishly difficult week in Spain, and Levy continued his good form after the trip of over 10,000 kilometres to Guangdong.
The 25 year old opened with a birdie on the tenth and followed that with another gain on the 13th before he went eagle-birdie on the 17th and 18th to turn in 31.
Another birdie followed on the first and Levy parred his way home to set the early pace.
De la Riva also started on the tenth and birdied the 13th and 15th but really came to life on the front nine with a run of three gains from the first. A dropped shot on the fifth moved him to four under but that was good enough to hold second place on his own.
There was then a group of five players at three under, including another course specialist in Tommy Fleetwood.
The Englishman finished second to Levy in 2014 and third at the inaugural staging of this event last year, and made an encouraging start to his tournament.
Birdies on the 13th, second, fourth and sixth had him challenging for the lead before he dropped a shot on the eighth.
Australian PGA Championship winner Nathan Holman was also at three under despite three bogeys and a double on his card after starting with four birdies, alongside Scot Richie Ramsay, who overcame a run of three bogeys from the 14th.
Home favourite Jia Zhang was also at three under, with Borja Virto Astudillo joining him in signing for a 69.
There was then a large group of players at two under, with defending champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat and two-time Major Championship winner Bubba Watson a further shot back.
