The front-runners maintained a nine-point advantage over second-placed Shanghai Shenhua, edging closer to their fourth domestic title.

The home side attacked from the outset but it was Shenzhen who opened the scoring through Vyacheslav Hleb midway through the first half as he beat his marker Yuan Weiwei to shoot past goalkeeper Yang Cheng.

Li Wei drew level on the half-hour mark, sidestepping Nie Lingfeng before firing home but German midfielder Andy Nagelein restored the lead for the visitors in the 59th minute when he headed home Song Chen's cross.

The hosts launched a last-gasp onslaught as Shenzhen went on the defensive to protect their slender lead and China international Han Peng scored the equaliser 12 minutes before the final whistle when he connected to Zhou's free-kick before steering the ball beyond keeper Cheng Yuelei.

Zhou then scored the winner with another excellent free-kick as the hosts claimed the three points.

Shandong now have 50 points, still nine points more than Shanghai who edged Jiangsu Shuntian 1-0 at Shanghai Hongkou Stadium.

The defeat by Shandong was Shenzhen's fifth consecutive loss and they have 24 points, only one more than the bottom sides Chongqing Lifan and Nanchang Bayi.

In Shanghai, Jiang Kun scored the only goal of the game as he volleyed Duvier Riascos' cross into the bottom of the net after 14 minutes.

In other games, Tianjin Teda were defeated by Dalian Shide 4-3, Chongqing edged Nanchang 3-2 for a much-needed three points as they try to avoid relegation and Henan Jianye beat Shaanxi Baorong 1-0.