Touche, mon frere (appologies for the lack of accent marks; my computer doesn't speak French).

For the sake of the electrons, I think we should aim to reduce the number of "is this okay?" posts.

While I think the OP is pretty clear on this front, please permit me to pound this stuff in again:

1) 95% of FTers can stay in Shanghai for up to 48 hours without getting a visa, provided they are flying in from one country and flying out to another country
-the border control people could care less where your final destination is; they only want to see a ticket to a country that is different from your originating country (e.g. USA-China-Japan-USA is completely fine)
-99.9% of FTers qualify for 24-hour stays, based on the same rules

2) It's possible to trick the system by actually purchasing refundable tickets to a third country, and canceling them; while I don't necessarily advocate this strategy, it seems to work pretty well

3) Stopovers >24/48 hours are probably doable (midnight rule), but this is not something you should plan for in advance

4) the powers that be --on both sides of the trip-- are increasingly aware of this drill
-in the unlikely event you are the first person ever to tempt these waters from your podunk airport, a simple phone call from them to HQ will set the matter straight
-as for the Chinese, just show them your e-ticket confirmation (iPad is cool); they are actually nice people who WANT you to spend time/money in their city

5) All of those people who claim that you can't leave the airport are typing away from their armchairs in other lands