Halep won 6-2 6-2 in Beijing to beat the Russian for the first time in her career.
Halep had previously lost seven straight match ups with the former world no.1.
But Sharapova was no match for her today and Halep moves into the quarter-finals where she will face either Agnieszka Radwanska or Daria Kasatkina.
Sharapova came into the event with a wildcard after impressing at the US Open.
But she is yet to really get her career back on track following her ban for taking meldonium.
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She reached the fourth round of the US Open last month but her singles rank remains 104 as she battles back to the top.
She did beat Anastasija Sevastova and Ekaterina Makarova to get to this stage in Beijing but Halep proved too much.
The Romania sprung out of the blocks and had too much for Sharapova.
Halep broke to love in the opening game and took the double break six games later to go 4-1 up.
She stormed through the opening set in just 33 minutes before putting Sharapova away 6-2 again in the second set.
Halep had a break point again in the first game of the second but Sharapova fought back – but it proved to be in vain.
She was broken in the third game of the set and had no way back.
The world no.2 produced one more break before serving out the match and will be hoping for her second title of the season.