Dear Stephaine,
Thanks for contacting Top China Travel!
The new 72-hour visa free stay policy allow people who need to transit in China a more convenient way to have a short exploration of specified cities. So if you are a transit traveller who hold a visa to the third country (third country is not China) and have a connecting air ticket of leaving above authorized airports to the thrid country (thrid country is not China) within 72 hours, then you can entitled visa free tour. If not, you need to apply for visa when you travel in China.
Any further request or question, please feel free to contact with us.