According to the Chinese version of wiki, 179th Brigade consist of 01X battalion of Type 96(51 tanks) and 04X battalions of Armoured Infantry ZBD86步兵战车.(124 ifv) there also a regiment of artillery within the brigade's ToE, consisting of 03Xbatteries. One each of 152mm howitzer, 122mm self propelled gun and one AA battery.
The ZBD86 is the Chinese copy of the BMP-1 and the Type 96 is similar to the T72, so with so much armour, called 179th motorized rifle brigade justify its strength.