Date: 201501
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZHWH.ARTCC, FO
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: 1
Light: Night
Aircraft: B767-300 and 300 ER
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Cargo / Freight / Delivery
Flight phase: Descent
ATC / advisory: Center ZHWH
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: 10 miles before Idula (level at 5700 meters) controller cleared us to 7700 meters and handed us over to the next controller. When checking in we called out of 6100 meters for 7700 meters. The controller with urgency in his voice; told us to get back down to 5700 meters. I clicked the auto pilot off and pushed the aircraft over and got back to 5700 meters in a hurry. At that time I got on the radio and told the controller that we were cleared to 7700 meters and read it back very clearly. From that point on the controller did not want to talk about it. I asked him if he wanted to submit a report; he came back with (I'll call you back) he never did. My guess is there was a miscommunication between the two controller's and they wanted this to just go away. I have been to China many times and am very aware of problems with communications and the problems with language. That is why I am very clear about repeating alt; heading. (Right turn- Romeo side; left turn- lemma side).


Second narrative: Climbing out we were given a climb to 5700 meters. As we were leveling off; the controller gave us a new altitude of 7700 meters which I read back very clearly to make sure. After we started climbing to the new altitude; the controller handed us off to a new Controller and when I checked in with him; I gave him our current altitude that we were at and the altitude we were climbing to which was 7700 meters. That controller told us negative and to descend back to 5700 feet which we immediately did. After complying with that clearance; the Captain questioned the new controller and told him that the previous controller gave us the wrong altitude of 7700 meters. ATC never said anything else about it. I believe the controllers had a miscommunication between the two facilities because we were very clear to them about our clearance. I don't believe we could have done anything else to prevent the situation. We were very clear with the read back and the Chinese sometimes have a hard time saying what they mean. By reading back the clearance clearly; we at least alerted the later controller of an incorrect clearance and we complied with the amended clearance he gave us without hesitation.


Synopsis: B767-300 flight crew at 5;700 meters is cleared to 7;700 meters and switched to a new Controller. Upon being informed of the altitude assignment; the crew is told to descend immediately to 5;700 meters by the new Controller.