Let me break it down for you:

30-day Visa-Free Entry for UK Tourists:

• Who qualifies?: UK passport holders can enter China for tourism without needing a visa for up to 30 days.
• Where it applies: This is for tourists who are entering China for a leisure visit or other non-business purposes.
• Why is it there?: This is part of a visa exemption policy that simplifies travel for tourists, so UK visitors don’t need to apply for a visa if they’re staying for less than 30 days.

144-hour Transit Visa:

• Who qualifies?: This is for travelers who are just passing through China on their way to another country (often for business or connecting flights).
• Where it applies: The 144-hour transit visa is only available in certain cities or regions, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and a few others, for people who don’t plan to stay but are simply transiting through China.
• Why is it still used?: It’s for people who are on a short stopover and don’t plan to stay longer than 6 days in China but need to enter China for their transit (without needing a full visa).

Key Differences:

• 30-day visa-free entry is for those traveling for tourism (or some other non-business purposes) and staying up to 30 days.
• 144-hour transit visa is for those who are just passing through China on their way to another destination, with a short stay of up to 6 days.

So, if you’re a UK tourist visiting China for tourism and staying for less than 30 days, you don’t need the 144-hour transit visa. You’re good to go with the visa-free entry. But if you’re just transiting through China for a few days en route to another country, the 144-hour transit visa could still be useful.

Does that help clear things up? Let me know if you need further details!