Just booked SZX-PEK for this month and returning PEK-HKG next month. The ticket was issued immediately with a United as well as Air China confirmation number plus the UA ticket number.
As an aside, North Asia to South Asia cost me 20,000 miles last year. The above ticket cost 25,000 miles. Did they raise the levels this year? The above reward ticket is listed as North Asia to North Asia on my account when they debited the miles.