BEIJING, 11 Oct, 2014 (AFP) - South Korea's Chang Yi-Keun and Australia's Rhein Gibson were breathing down his neck, with Chang firing 65 to match the course record at par-71 Nanshan International Golf Club.
"A one-shot lead is nothing and we are all in with a chance," said Li, who joined China's national team at 14 and lies on eight-under-par 205 after earlier rounds of 68 and 65.
"I need to make a lot of birdies tomorrow."
Gibson was the joint leader in round one, and after slipping to fourth in the second round he shot 69 to renew his challenge at the $1 million OneAsia event.
South Korea's Todd Baek also equalled the course record at Nanshan, which hosts the Chinese national team's training centre, for a share of fourth.
Leading scores (par-71)
205 - Li Haotong (CHN) 68-65-72
206 - Chang Yi-Keun (KOR) 70-71-65, Rhein Gibson (AUS) 67-70-69
207 - Todd Baek (KOR) 73-69-65, Garrett Sapp (USA) 71-65-71
208 - Michael Sim (AUS) 70-69-69
209 - Zhou Guowu (CHN) 68-71-70
210 - Choi Jin-ho (KOR) 70-73-67, Ryan Haller (AUS) 71-71-68, Lee Jun Seok (AUS) 69-69-72