China's aviation regulator will lift bans on lighters or matches in carry-on luggage on all flights from December 20.

Air passengers will be allowed to take a lighter or a box of matches on planes, but must show it to security personnel before boarding, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

However, passengers still can't carry lighters or matches in checked-in luggage, the administration said.

The administration also loosened limits on liquids by allowing passengers to carry liquids in containers no bigger than 100 milliliters in carry-on bags. Passengers can carry a total of 1,000 milliliters of liquids.

The rule only allows passengers to carry up to 100 milliliters of cosmetics in each container.

Passengers can also carry alcoholic beverages, with alcohol content at less than 70 percent, in check-in luggage.

The revised rules will be valid on both domestic and overseas flights.

The administration tightened rules four months ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games to ensure security.

Two suspected terrorists were caught on a plane from Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region destined for Beijing on March 7.