The flight is between SIN and URC via CAN.
Two flights, two flight numbers, two planes. One carrier. Just wanted to clear that up.

I am in OVB right now and an American colleague arrived three days ago or so from URC with no visa. He said he was told in URC that the 24 hour rule of Americans not needing a visa might work in Beijing but "you must have a visa to come here and leave here." "Here" being URC. He was harrassed a bit and promised he would have big problems when he flies back through URC later this week.

So, is there anything to there being different standards for Americans without a visa transiting in the capital city as compared to a more provincial town like URC? I have time to get a visa if need be but would like to get on this sooner than later since I won't be in the States a lot between now and the end of the summer/early fall.

Any insights would be very much appreciated by this first timer to China.