Visa-free transit in Beijing (PEK) for Russian citizens

Hi, please advise if visa-free transit applies in case I have two separate return tickets: one from Moscow to Beijing and another from Beijing to Sydney. On the way from Russia to Australia we plan to stay in Beijing for 2 days and on the way back we have 7 hours connection time with no plans to leave the airport, but still need to leave a transit zone to collect the luggage and check-in on the flight to Moscow. The first doubt concerns the separate tickets confirming the flight to the third country and second concern is about visa-free transit 2 times on the way to Australia and back. Thanks in advance.