Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
Remember, transit without visa is only available for some passports. I would also carry a printout of the rules to avoid problems with airline checkin staff.
Um, no. Transit Without Visa (TWOV) for international through travelers is available to nearly
all passports, for up to 24 hours. Perhaps you are confused with the 48 hour allowance at SHA and PVG, which is only available to a select list of passport holders (but still a lot of countries).
As for printout of rules (TIMATIC), always a good idea to take along, but it really depends on airline and origination point as to whether this will be an issue with check-in staff. All the airline staff need to know is that you will be transiting in PEK--they do not need to know (and you do not need to volunteer) that you plan to leave the airport. Plans to leave the airport are more properly addressed to Chinese Immigration, whom you will encounter upon arrival. There is a Sticky at the top of the China Forum which describes this, also numerous recent posts on the very simple TWOV procedure.