Alright, here are my opening moves. Played 61 turns to 1560 BC since that's when Oracle completed:
Settled in place.
Tech order: BW -> AH -> Mysticism -> Meditation -> Priesthood -> The Wheel -> Pottery -> Metal Casting (Oracle).
Builds in Beijing went Worker -> Warrior -> Settler -> Warrior -> Warrior -> Warrior -> Oracle.
Finished Oracle in 1560 BC, took Metal Casting.
Had lots of trouble deciding on the 2nd city spot. Decided to forego fresh water and founded Shanghai on hills next to pigs.
Some barb archers roaming about, thankfully Joao's scouting archer took one out before it attacked Shanghai.
What to do next?
First off, get some axes out and then a forge for the engineer.
I could try an axe rush against Joao, he's not too far away. Or then I will try for the Pyramids. The second strategy seems to fit China much better. I can wait until Machinery to conquer Joao if I pull off the GE -> Machinery slingshot. Oracle in Beijing interferes with that, but I could not safely chop around Shanghai due to barb archers.
Spoiler :
Settled in place.
Tech order: BW -> AH -> Mysticism -> Meditation -> Priesthood -> The Wheel -> Pottery -> Metal Casting (Oracle).
Builds in Beijing went Worker -> Warrior -> Settler -> Warrior -> Warrior -> Warrior -> Oracle.
Finished Oracle in 1560 BC, took Metal Casting.
Had lots of trouble deciding on the 2nd city spot. Decided to forego fresh water and founded Shanghai on hills next to pigs.
Some barb archers roaming about, thankfully Joao's scouting archer took one out before it attacked Shanghai.


What to do next?
First off, get some axes out and then a forge for the engineer.
I could try an axe rush against Joao, he's not too far away. Or then I will try for the Pyramids. The second strategy seems to fit China much better. I can wait until Machinery to conquer Joao if I pull off the GE -> Machinery slingshot. Oracle in Beijing interferes with that, but I could not safely chop around Shanghai due to barb archers.