The Swedes, who are ranked one in the world, and who are the reigning world champion, did not make it sue when it was a premiere match in Canadian Moose Jaw.
Skipper Niklas Edin had the chance to acknowledge at the end, but missed and instead China could pull away and win by 9-5.
– It’s really a good start but it will be a long week. So now we have to focus on the next match, China’s XU Xiaoming tells World Curling.
Blågult, whose team consists of Simon Olofsson, Christoffer Sundgren, Rasmus Wranå, Oskar Eriksson and Niklas Edin, is next against Austria the night before Monday, Swedish time.
Elsewhere, Canada has got a taste start with two straight wins, 7–3 against Japan and later 7–5 against European champion Germany.
SVT broadcasts the championship from Tuesday. Then Sweden is set against the home management Canada at 17.00.