Really? I have found Chinese security remarkably consistent over the years with respect to tools, knives, liquids, alcohol-based (flammable) products, lighters and matches, etc. And consistent from airport to airport across the entire country, with Xinjiang airports having some additional aspects to their security process. The newish limitations on lithium batteries and power pack/charger labelling are the only major development I can think of that might have had a rather confused transition period during the implementation.

I find it much more difficult to find any consistency with the US' TSA from airport to airport (heck even at different security checkpoints in the same airport!)