(Starting a separate thread for eChannel. I think it's deserved.)

PEK
(September 21, 2023)

They changed everything....
I came in from the right and there are NO eChannels. All gone.
Every immigration station is new. Foreigners are to the right, where eChannels used to be.
Started filling out the arrival card, as I thought eChannels were removed, until I saw the eChannels are now to the LEFT of the whole thing.
eChannel worked flawlessly, and was fast in recognizing passport, face and thumbprint.

They also added many more normal stations in the same location, and also in the area that used to be open, past the main immigration location, and before the escalators down to the train.
Have a feeling they are either:
1) expecting a large influx in arriving passengers, or
2) going to be taking longer for each passenger, so needing more stations

Note:
on exiting China, I sure hope they will get rid of the horrendous security scanning location before the train in the main terminal. That's the worst part of the PEK experience nowadays.

TL;DR
At PEK, the eChannels have moved from the right side to the left side of immigration