I was in China last month, flying into Shanghai and then on flights within China before returning to YYZ through Beijing. And, except for the point about not having to remove shoes to go through security, my experience was completely different from the OP's.

No body scanners, no shouting or rudeness from the security folks, no frisking (let's stop with this "pat down" euphemism) no secondary check for anything after going through security, at the jet bridge or anywhere else.

Now - I wasn't flying to the US, so that may make a difference.

I can't decide whether to be saddened, outraged or both that my dignity as a passenger was consistently upheld better in a country that we criticize for human rights violations than in North America, where we brag about setting the standard for human rights and freedom.