flight from the UK to Thailand with a 19 stopover in Shanghai

You will apply for a temporary entry permit upon your landing in Shanghai. You will apply at the 24 hour visa free transit counter where you will present your flight tickets that you should have in hard copy (simple printouts of your flight tickets with long 14 digit number). You are advised to book your accommodation in advance and to print out even this confirmation and enclose it with your application. Your chances to be granted a temporary entry permit are really very good, but you have to be aware that the issuing of this permit depends entirely upon a discretion of immigration official on a day of your arrival in Shanghai.