It would take some major balance overhauls not to the unit, but to the civ itself but I always though the unit needed AOE damage. The civ needs to be weak to heavy cav or it really has no weakness, But I support changes to get a more balanced counter system for them, but the key is to not lose the essence and specialty of the civ,
Late game I personally never use the changdao combo because once age 4 chuknuknu pike card comes in they are just so much better.
So does china then need another card like that? What would be the counter balance, do skirms and archers, get minus 1 or half a multiplier vs heavy infantry?
Maybe that chuknuknu card should not effect pikemen, leaving that army to be a very strong anti inf, but a weaker anti cav, but then use the skirm chandao as a weaker skirm unit, but stronger on the anti cav.