The Spaniard notched his second career title in a protracted encounter in central China that was decided by fine margins.
The world number 28 logged the match's only break of serve in the seventh game and saw out the first set comfortably.
Hurkacz, ranked 41st, dug deep but squandered a 6-3 lead in the second-set tie-break to hand his opponent the victory.
Davidovich Fokina was seeded second for the ATP 250 event, while Hurkacz was seeded fifth.
Top seed Valentin Vacherot was eliminated in the round of 16 by South African qualifier Lloyd Harris, ranked 125th.