Chengdu visa free?

Hi there.
I hope someone can help. There really isn't any solid information that confirms if we need a full entry permit for our trip. The visa centre in Manchester have said they can not advise which entry permit?? just help with the visa we decide we need?? Crazy. I have also called air china and they didn't know either and were supposed to be getting back to me by Friday last week and haven't as of yet.
We will be leaving London Gatwick on the 17th and are flying direct to Chengdu where we arrive at 06.00am on the 18th. Our next flight is to Phuket on 21st at 20.05. We then have 10 nights in Phuket before flying back to London Heathrow on 31st which includes a change of plane in Beijing for 1 hour? All the trip is booked with Air China and was booked together.
I think we will be eligible for the 144 hour twov however as I think Chengdu have just joined the scheme there is little clarity and I'm stressing we won't have the correct free transit in place and they could reject us?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you