From Sydney to Frankfurt - 21 hours layover in Beijing in

You are eligible and you don't need to apply for it as you are free of visa to China for 15-day stay. And you can book a hotel in advance.

Mary, since you are German citizen you should know that you can enter China absolutely visa free for stay of up to 15 days in the same way as you travel to UK, for example. In other words, you do not have to bother yourself about any single detail of visa free transit or similar. Yiu will just fill out arrival card that will be dispensed in the plane before your landing in Beijing and proceed to the immigration with your passport and the mentioned card to enjoy your time and to have a good night rest in the hotel that you can definitely book in advance. That's it.