That point is irrelevant as NO Chinese airport has sterile transit, so all transfer passengers must go through immigration. Leaving the airport literally means leaving the airport building, although in practice there's nothing to stop you from leaving the airport. There has been many fters connecting through CAN with no problem, other than reports of immigration officer escorting them to the departure level.
So the morale of the story is that OP do not need to worry about transit visa connecting through CAN.
Wait a minute. That is not true.
Have you actually been to CAN? CAN use to have a sterile area for transit passengers and passengers had the chance of using them when it first started operating. Then, these past couple years they just blocked it so no one can use it and force you to go through immigration. There is no such thing as
NO Chinese airport has sterile transit. Some of the airports have sterile transit, but not usable anymore. It's more like how often the Chinese change their policy in giving the passengers a chance to use it.
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jiejie I do agree with you that the embassy information may be wrong. I am just letting you know where I got my information from and how I have experienced while I am in CAN or have friends or families go through CAN. Like I said, I rather play it safe when it comes to China.
Regarding luggage pick up, it's a hit and miss. Sometimes you have to pick up your luggage, sometimes you don't have to pick up your luggage. I don't know if it's an airline specific problem, or an airport specific problem. They are inconsistent.