While I will never be in that part of the globe, a work colleague recently flew on Air China to PEK, then onward, eventually landing in her final destination of Manila, solely, because in her words, the ticket was dirt cheap from YVR.

She told me it took her 4 hours to transit PEK without a visa, and that if she had known the hell that awaited her, she would have bought the $400 more expensive Air Phillipines ticket instead.

Anecdotal info, but coming first hand from a source I trust.