Timing is everything. August flights are always packed with Chinese students heading to the states, American students heading to China, Chinese-Americans visiting family in China returning to the US, and the end of the summer tourist season on both sides of the pacific.

Was looking at September and post national day October flights the other day and could get US-PEK RT for $1000 from the West Coast and $1250 from Florida, so quite reasonable.

Worth noting that US is selling miles again, so easy to get a $1900ish business class ticket TPAC if you are flexible with dates...