I have been checking some of the local Chinese sites and so far have not found anything cheaper but will do more research over the weekend. I will definitely try ctrip and elong in my future searches.

I am not in a rush to book and do realize it may get cheaper as we get closer to next March but wanted to know options to try that I may not be aware of.

I know 1.2 cpm is not a very good value but again what I was hoping to get out of others is potentially some program, I may not be aware of,that requires much less miles and taxes and is a transfer partner with UR, MR or SP. e.g. In the US I can use BA Avios for short haul flights less than 650 miles (PVG - ICN is only 511 miles) and fly RT for only 9K miles.

Aeroplan looked a bit better than United at 20K miles but not sure how much it would cost in taxes and fees.

In other words, looking for unique value propositions which I may not have considered until now.