Amex MR: 400,000 points
Class: Business
Bags: 2 checked + 1 carry-on backpack


Planning to travel from Portland, OR to Zhongshan, China in February 2025 (Currently looking at Feb 10). Currently eyeing China Airlines' route: SEA to TPE, booked through Flying Blue for 90,500 points departing from PDX.




The website shows no result when I search PDX to SZX, so then I plan to book a separate ticket through flying blue again with China Airlines TPE to SZX at 3:30 PM. But this results in a 10-hour layover.
Originally I was going to buy this leg with cash since it's a short flight, but with the long layover I'm leaning towards points redemption to get business class for CI's lounge access.



Questions:
- Since both flights above is from the same airline but booked separately, would my checked luggages arrive at SZX? Or would I have to recheck them at TPE?
- Are there any ways to avoid the 10-hour layover? One alternative I found is booking a flight from Taipei to Macau with EVA Air, paying for an extra checked luggage. This flight departs at 10 AM, resulting in only a 5-hour layover. However, I believe this option would require me to recheck my luggage at TPE and go through customs twice (once to enter Macau and again to enter Mainland China). But I don't think it's worth the hassle just to arrive a few hours earlier.

I'm new to award traveling, will appreciate any help at all!