Is registration at the police necessary when the stopover in Guangzhou will only last half a day?

Hello,

I am flying to Jakarta with a 12 hours stopover in Guangzhou and wanted to benefit from the visa free entry to see the town instead of staying at the airport from the early morning (when I arrive) to late evening (when I will continue my journey to Jakarta).

However, knowing that when not staying in a hotel I would be required to register at a police station makes me question my idea.

Therefore, I would be grateful if you could tell me:
- do I have to register at a police station even if I will not be staying in Guangzhou overnight?
- if so, how long does it take and is it doable by a non-Chinese speaking foreigner?

Thank you very much in advance.