My husband & I (both British citizens living in UK)

will be departing LHR (via Dubai) to Hong Kong on 8/03/18. We will be staying 5 nights in HK (Dorsett Hotel) before embarking on a Holland & America cruise on 14/03/18, calling at Manila, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Naha, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Shanghai overnight on 27/03/18, ending in Shanghai on 28/03/18. We then spend 2 nights at Seagull on Bund Hotel before departing Pudong airport (via Dubai) back to LHR at 00.05 on March 31st 2018 with Emirates Airline.
These are confirmed reservations.
Are we eligible for the 144 hour free transit, or do we need to apply for a Chinese visa?