I'm a German. Can I use the 72-h-visa-free rule for the following flights:

Direct flight Almaty-Beijing Terminal 2. Stop 36 h. Flight Beijing Terminal 2 to Sydney MU711, but the plane makes a short stop in Hangzhou and continues the flight to Sydney under the same number MU711. The airline said that I must not enter China again in HZ. As the rule of the visa-free staying requires to fly to a 3rd country directly, is this stop in HZ hurting this rule or seen as if I go directly to Sydney?