Flight from Seoul to Sydney with transits in Beijing and Shenzhen. Do I need a China visa?

Hi,

I'm an Australian. I have booked a return ticket from Sydney-Seoul with Southern China Airlines. The return flight from Seoul, I would have to change flights in Beijing and Shenzen.

I thought the transfers can be done on the airside and that I wouldn't need a China visa. I have asked the airlines, but they can't tell me if I need to go through passport controls to make the connection flights or not.

I found out that the Beijing-Shenzhen segment is a domestic flight. So I would have to transfer from an international to a domestic flight in Beijing, and then in Shenzhen, transfer back to an international flight.

Does anyone know if I will need a China visa?

Any answers are appreciated. I only have a week left to get it if I have to.