Hamilton and championship-leading teammate Valtteri Bottas, who was fifth, set their fastest laps on the grippier soft tyre, with Vettel and Leclerc setting their best efforts on the less sticky but more durable medium-compound rubber.
Max Verstappen, who last year botched his chances of victory in China with scrappy attempts to overtake Hamilton and Vettel, was fourth quickest in his Honda-powered Red Bull.
Daniel Ricciardo was sixth for Renault, ahead of Frenchman Pierre Gasly in the second Red Bull and Russian Daniil Kvyat in the Toro Rosso.
Lance Stroll was ninth for Racing Point, ahead of Romain Grosjean in 10th and teammate Kevin Magnussen in 11th.
Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix will be the 1000th Formula One world championship race.
Hamilton, who trails teammate Bottas by one point in the standings after the Mercedes pair finished one-two in both of the season's races so far, is the most successful driver around the 5.4-km circuit.
But the Briton can expect a stiff challenge in his bid for a sixth triumph, with Ferrari tipped as favourites following their dominant performance in Bahrain and Red Bull, winners last year with Ricciardo, also an outside chance.