PVG security was nuts
 

Laptop bag--they unpacked every bit of electronics in it. Nobody's ever done that before.

They also pulled my camera bag out of the bag it was in and ran both through separately, again something nobody has done before.

Finally, I had the flight-legal Letherman tool--they declared it a "small knife", it wouldn't fly. At least it didn't take long to mail it (we have relatives over there, I'll get it next time.)

(And their luggage x-ray caught a power bank I inadvertently packed but that was legitimately my oops.)

I would say they were poking around in at least 1 in 3 bags.

PEK is worse.

As I've suggested in other threads, carrying on as little as possible is a key component of my travel strategy. That having been said, power bank(s) --ideally not plural!-- always find a spot in my computer bag.

Isn't that standard procedure? Not just in China.

Yeah, this doesn't sound like anything new on outbound security.

https://www.vintandyork.com/content/...with-screw.jpg

Had an eye glass screw driver confiscated at PEK T2.
Come on man.:D

OK, I admit that is over the top. I have never had my own eye glass screw driver confiscated. Maybe you looked shifty? :p

The strangest part was when they discovered the screw driver stuck in the seam of the bottom of the camera bag, they opened up the bag of the guy behind me and on top of his clothes he had a bowie knife about 20" long.
They just took the knife and waived the guy on.

That screwdriver must have been in the bag for years and traveled around the world a few times before PEK.

https://besurvival.com/wp-content/up...owie-knife.jpg

That's where it was supposed to be. However, one day it was moved to my daypack and managed to stay in it when it was otherwise emptied.

It's never happened before.

US airport, it goes through opened in half (it's a checkpoint friendly bag). Non-US airport, the laptop comes out. Until this trip nobody's looked at the pile of wire etc on the other side.

With TSA Pre ✓® you don't have to remove your laptops.

Have no idea why they trademarked TSA Pre✓...doesn't
seem like a mark that has any value.

PreCheck means nothing in PVG.

Which terminal was that? Regular or VIP lane? PVG is getting too busy. I cannot believe how serious the security back-ups have become at peak times.

You said in your original post, "every bit of electronic" which includes iPad and iPhone, cameras, etc. I always have to take these out everywhere. Batteries for sure as well. wires, I don't think so.
Maybe something happened earlier that day and they were more nervous. Or somebody warned them you were coming ;-)

Yeah that's trademarked by TSA..:D