Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
Check luggage through and try hard to get all boarding passes before leaving NYC.
PEK tends to have a lot of weather and ATC delays, so don't panic; your departing flight is likely to be delayed.
If you do misconnect and need to wait until the next day, be aware of the transit without visa rules that should make it easy to leave the airport, assuming your nationality is eligible.
Essentially,
ALL nationalities are eligible for 24 hour Transit Without Visa at any Chinese airport when on intl-to-intl connection. Where the nationality limitation comes into play is in Shanghai for the extended 48 hour allowance--this is only for passport holders on the favored country list.