Can we use the 72 hour free visa for two Chinese cities with Hong Kong in between?

My husband and I are American citizens. I plan to fly from Vancouver, Canada to Beijing (stay 3 days) then fly to Hong Kong (stay 3 days) then fly to Shanghai (stay 3 days) then fly back to Vancouver. My husband works works in Kazakhstan and plans to do the same itinerary but he will leave and return to Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan-BJ-Hong Kong-Shanghai-Kazakhstan). Do we both qualify for the 72 hour visas?