China's Asian Cup 2007 campaign got off to the best possible start on Tuesday when they comprehensively beat co-hosts and rank outsiders Malaysia at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

Two goals apiece from Han Peng and Wang Dong, coupled with an effort from Shao Jiayi, proved decisive for Zhu Guanghu's side as they encountered little resistance from a Malaysian outfit who, at 149th, are the lowest-ranked side in this year's tournament.

In front of a sparse yet vocal home crowd, China, despite having enjoyed a less than impressive build-up to Asia's premier football event, started brightly with the lively Changchun Yatai midfielder Wang Dong and Shandong Luneng striker Han both going close within the opening seven minutes.

China, runners-up to Japan at the last Asian Cup in 2004, duly grabbed the lead their early dominance richly deserved when Wang Dong's delightful 15th-minute right-wing cross was headed home with ease at the far post by a grateful Han.

Mao Jianqing should have doubled China's advantage after half an hour but he remarkably blazed over the bar from close range.

With 36 minutes on the clock, China did add to their tally when Shao, who plies his trade with Energie Cottbus in Germany, rammed home Zheng Zhi's pinpoint delivery.

Although they were made to play second fiddle for much of the first half, the Malaysians, with the hard-working Hardi Jaafar prominent in midfield, refused to buckle and nearly pulled one back shortly before the break but Hairuddin Omar's shot was somehow scrambled away by a relieved China defence.

In spite of that rare moment of brightness, worse was to come for Norizan Bakar's charges six minutes into the second half, when Wang's shot from the edge of the penalty area cannoned off Fauzie Nan before rolling past a wrong-footed Azizon Kadir in the Malaysia goal.

Han, who has been in terrific form domestically during the early stages of the Chinese Super League, then bagged his second of the night after 55 minutes, this time stealing into the box to convert Shao's left-wing cross with aplomb to leave Zhu celebrating enthusiastically on the sidelines.

With Norizan continuing to urge his troops forward, Malaysia reduced the deficit 17 minutes from the final whistle when Hairuddin Omar's neat lay-off was blasted past China custodian Li Lei Lei by substitute Indra Putra.

Wang then finished a glorious night for China and their under-pressure coach by scoring with a powerful header deep into stoppage time.