China versus Malians I think is like one of the hardest matchups for China just because the food just doesn't run out for Mali. It is so difficult to get a gradual farm transition going with the Chinese. With China, it's very difficult to go for gradual smooth food transition. For Malians, it's their bread and butter.

Astronomical clock tower would have been better. Typically it's the one way China can win on one TC up against Malians because eventually the food's going to run out so you just start making siege instead.

Archers don't do damage against Sofa. The additional armor from Imported Armor is just too much.

I think you really go for immediate aggression, maybe even with a Barbican drop.

I think you could make a case for just going for a little bit of market usage as well with China in this matchup. Like there's two tested ways that you can actually play this: all in feudal age or you play 2TC. If you just play one TC and tech up, you're not going to be able to win it based off of that because Malians is a civilization that's not afraid of you getting a tech advantage.