Originally Posted by
collegeidol
Depends on the gate of your arrival flight. Make sure you have the onward boarding pass, if not, you need to ask for one at the transfer desk, and in my experience, they will always write you one, instead of print one out for you.
The transfer immigration check usually open on the side of the immigration hall. If you are in luck, you can spot it right-away, or you need to climb or crawl between the crowd and get to the other side of the hall. So, check the two edges of the immigration hall, and the overhead display will show it is for transfer passenger only.
I've had major problems with this, but always (just) made my flight.
The real issue is how many people are in the queue at the transit desk: sometimes the queue can be 20 deep, and it just takes one hicup, and the person in front of you will take 15 minutes to get their boarding card, and your plans are scuppered.
Picture of the transit queue here:
http://loungeindex.com/Asia/China/PEK/index.htm#Transit
There can also be long queues for the stairs to go downstairs and be x-rayed.
Having said that, and hour and you'll probably do it.