The Chinese team of Zhu Yingwen, Pang Jiaying, Zhou Yafei and Yang Yu were third in 7:57.29 at the world championships on Thursday.
China lags behind the US, Australia and the UK to rank the fourth after the first two relays.
Zhou Yafei, China's third relay, shortens the distance from the UK, the third place. Yang Yu, a 200-meter-freestyle bronze medaller of the competition, finishes the surpass.
The United States won the women's 4x200 metres freestyle relay final. Natalie Coughlin, Katie Hoff, Whitney Myers and Kaitlin Sandeno won the gold in seven minutes 53.70 seconds, the second fastest time in history.
The Australian quartet of Libby Lenton, Shayne Reese, Bronte Barratt and Linda MacKenzie finished second in 7:54.06 after leading for the first 700m.