Do I need a visa or tai bao zheng?

Part one:

This is a direct copy/paste from Timatic, exactly for your case regarding your transit through mainland China:

National Chinese Taipei (TW)
Transit China (People's Rep.) (CN)
Destination USA (US)
ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW

Visa Information - Transit Point
China (People's Rep.) (CN)

Information for Normal Passports
Passport required.
- When in transit, passports and other documents accepted for
entry must be valid for a minimum of 3 months from the
arrival date.
- Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents (Tai Bao Zheng)
must be valid on arrival.
Passport Exemptions:

- Chinese Taipei passengers with a Mainland Travel Permit for
Taiwan Residents (Tai Bao Zheng). For details, click here

Part two:

Visa required, except for Chinese Taipei passengers with a
Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents (Tai Bao Zheng).
For details, click here
Visa Issuance:
Visa required, except for Passengers with a Chinese Taipei (on
the cover: Republic of China Taiwan) passport and a national

ID card issued by Chinese Taipei (Taiwan Identity Card) can

obtain a transit visa at Beijing (PEK), Changchun (CGQ),
Changsha (CSX), Changzhou (CZX), Chengdu (CTU), Chongqing
(CKG), Dalian (DLC), Fuzhou (FOC), Guangzhou (CAN), Guilin
(KWL), Guiyang (KWE), Haikou (HAK), Hailar (HLD), Hangzhou
(HGH), Harbin (HRB), Hefei (HFE), Huangshan (TXN), Jinan
(TNA), Kunming (KMG), Nanchang (KHN), Nanjing (NKG), Nanning
(NNG), Ningbo (NGB), Qingdao (TAO), Quanzhou (JJN), Sanya
(SYX), Shanghai: Hongqiao (SHA) and Pudong (PVG), Shenyang
(SHE), Shenzhen (SZX), Taiyuan (TYN), Tianjin (TSN) , Urumqi
(URC), Weihai (WEH), Wenzhou (WNZ), Wuhan (WUH), Wuxi (WUX),
Xiamen (XMN) Xi An (XIY), Xining (XNN), Xuzhou (XUZ), Yancheng
(YNZ), Yanji (YNJ), Yantai (YNT), Yinchuan (INC), Zhangjiajie
(DYG) and Zhengzhou (CGO) for a maximum of 3 months. They must
have 2 passport photos.
Warning:
- All transiting passengers are subject to a check by

immigration. Passengers in transit must hold passports or

other documents accepted to enter China (People's Rep.).
- For TWOV through Chengdu (CTU): before departure, a
notification must be sent by the carrier to immigration at

scbfgjsina.cn .
- For TWOV through Dalian (DLC) or Shenzhen (SZX): before
departure, a notification must be sent by the carrier to

immigration.

You can either get a Taiwan Compatriot Permit on arrival (I believe it's 50 CNY plus a photo fee) or apply for a Chinese Travel Document at a Chinese consulate or embassy at a cost of US$25 if you don't have US citizenship (valid for 2 years and multiple entries to Mainland China). Keep in mind that the visa counter at Xiamen airport may not be open 24/7 so airline may refuse boarding if your flight arrives outside normal business hours (Check with Xiamen Air).

Thank you all.. will do!