Does the airport connection / stopover count as transit?

I'm flying from London to Guangzhou and later from Guangzhou to Auckland.
However, there's a stop over during the first flight in Sanya (it lasts 1hr 20 min). My understanding is that I will not even leave the aircraft and the continuation of the journey has got the same flight number. Does that stop over count as transit for which I need a visa?
If it is not transit, then I reckon I could change flights on visa free arrangements in Guangzhou (14 hrs transit), is that right?