BEIJING - It looks like the crush of people leaving Beijing after the Olympic Games resulted in thousands of lost bags.  This notice was sent out to staff of Air Canada:

Beijing Airport baggage system experiences six-hour shutdown; Air Canada successfully recovers. Due to overwhelming baggage volumes, the Beijing Airport baggage system experienced a six-hour shutdown early on August 25 (PEK time), resulting in 10,000 bags being left behind. Due to crew duty day limitations, Air Canada decided to depart Beijing without the approximately three hundred missing bags. Customers were advised of the situation by both ground staff at the gate area, and Service Directors upon pushback, specifying that bags were left off due to airport baggage system issues.  

Not an uncommon problem at peak travel times, but frustrating nonetheless if your bag happens to be one of those missing.  London had similar problems when Heathrow's Terminal 5 opened in February.