Transit Visa on French and Australian Passports

Hi!

If you are in transit between 2 flights in PVG, can you leave the airport to go downtown when you have a French or Australian passport?
On the net I read that you neede an onward ticket + a visa for your final destination. We will be on our way to Bali and the visa for Indonesia is actually purchased on arrival. Would it be a problem for the Chinese authorities?
Many thanks

Frederick