Originally Posted by
YuropFlyer
Just to add to your points:
With only a couple hours, I would not try to enter China proper, as that means driving twice with the monorail to the main building and back, passing the main security etc. - instead go for "transfers". It's made for international-international transit. They'll check your passport and boarding pass, you'll go downstairs, pass through a security checkpoint, and you'll be directly in the departures terminal (and next to the pretty nice CA lounge
)
Horsewithnoname:
If you're flying CA, or any Star Alliance connection that keeps you in T3 with under about 3-4 hour connection, do what YuropFlyer says. No need to even deal with TWOV. Look for the International Transit desk and show the officer your onward boarding pass--you'll be sent down the path directly leading to the dedicated security checkpoint and back airside, much faster. Then you can head to the lounge.