So Air Canada has suddenly decided to be competitive on price again after many years of being stuck up and snobby pricing themselves on par with Cathay Pacific on trans-pacific routes.
You can get YVR to Shanghai and Beijing for ~$750 and ~$790 respectively.
More details here.
Vancouver to China - $739 roundtrip after taxes | up to March 2014
Combine that with the current promotion with Amex Gold Rewards card for instant $200 off travel and thats theoretically ONLY $550 to get to Asia! Too bad I have my trip for this year already booked.