Travelling from UK to New Zealand via Beijing

I will be flying from London Heathrow to Beijing International airport with a 10 hour layover then on to NZ but I would like to go into Beijing for 4/5 hours. I have read into the information above, I have a passport valid for 5 years, a entry NZETA visa for NZ. From what I understand I can just tell the airline on arrival in London, fill in a card en route and then present all this when I arrive in Beijing and should be fine.

Am I required to collect my check-in baggage after flight 1 prior to leaving? I am planning on leaving it with them to move onto my connecting flight to NZ.

Thanks in advance.