Thanks for some of the sympathy here . . . but the experience in retrospect was kind of fun and funny . . . and it makes a good story. No real harm done. And, if nothing else, it made my somewhat longer overnight airport stay (one week later, on the way back to the U.S.) at the nearby Crowne Plaza hotel seem that much more luxurious by comparison.

By the way, I did see the nearly-finished Hilton hotel near the airport. It is very close to PEK's Terminal 3, but not exactly adjacent -- i.e., no indoor access from the airport like the O'Hare Hilton or the DFW Hyatt. It appears to be easily walkable for a healthy person with limited luggage, assuming a pedestrian-friendly route to it (was not able to ascertain sidewalk patterns; some airports make it difficult or impossible for pedestrians and bicyclists to reach nearby neighborhoods). The Hilton website indicates they will be running a shuttle bus service. In any case, the Hilton will make a nice in-transit hotel alternative for the traveler with a few extra bucks to spend.