Visa needed for 15 hours in Guangzhou?

I am flying out of Australia tomorrow night and I am arriving in Guangzhou on Monday morning. No one told me about a visa until about an hour ago and now it is too late to apply for one. I need to leave the airport in China to pick something up during my stop over for 18 hours before i continue to amsterdam. Will I be able to leave or will I be able to apply for a transit visa once i arrive in china. What can i do ?