Greece's Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a country and passport-type table for travelers seeking to enter Greece. The table lists Chinese ordinary passport holders as requiring a visa, while Chinese diplomatic passport holders are listed as visa-free.
The distinction is based on the passport type, not simply the traveler's nationality. Other visa and airport-transit exceptions in the official table may apply only to the specified document or situation.
Chinese ordinary passport holders planning a short visit should therefore arrange the applicable Schengen visa before travel and should not rely on the treatment shown for diplomatic or official passports.