Goals from Yago Carillo and Kang Min-Woo earned former champions Ulsan a 2-1 win over Leonid Slutsky's side in Shanghai to pick up their first points of the campaign as the South Koreans moved off the bottom of the league standings.
Ulsan climb into 11th place above Australia's Central Coast Mariners, who are eliminated, in the 12-team standings with the tournament entering into a two-month break.
The top eight finishers in the league phase from both west and east Asia advance to the knockout rounds and so far no team from the eastern half has confirmed their progress to the next phase.
Shenhua remain in ninth position on seven points having taken the lead through Andre Luis' 23rd minute header.
But with goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-Woo in stellar form between the posts, Ulsan clung on despite being second-best throughout the opening 45 minutes.
Yago netted from the penalty spot to equalise in the 58th minute after being felled by Shenhua goalkeeper Bao Yaxiong and, eight minutes later, Kang rose to head Ataru Esaka's corner home.
In Kawasaki, the home side consolidated their hold on fourth, moving onto 12 points to sit one point behind Yokohama F Marinos, Gwangju FC and Vissel Kobe.
Kawasaki went in front in the third minute when Marcinho shot past Wang Dalei after the Shandong goalkeeper had saved Yusuke Segawa's left-foot strike.
The Japanese side increased their advantage with four minutes left in the first half as Yuki Yamamoto bent his free kick around the blindside of Wang's defensive wall and the China international was unable to scramble across in time to save.
Brazilian defender Jesiel steered a 65th-minute header from Yamamoto's corner to Wang's right for his side's third and captain Shin Yamada added the fourth from close range in the 90th minute.
The defeat leaves Shandong in 10th place on seven points, one behind Thailand's Buriram United, who occupy the eighth and final qualifying berth for the knockout rounds.