I was denied a 24-hour transit visa exemption in China

Going from Sydney to Paris, I decided to book a flight with a long layover in Guangzhou, China to see the city and add another country to my list. China normally requires a visa for entry, however for "transiting passengers" you can get a 24 or 144-hour visa exemption, which allows for these scenarios if you want to leave an airport during a long layover. That is, until you get denied.