The Amazing Race: China Rush 3 () is the third season of The Amazing Race: China Rush, a Chinese reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. It featured 11 teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race across 11 cities in China, to win a trip around the world.
The Chinese TV network International Channel Shanghai aired the season in English and Dragon TV aired the season in Chinese. It ran from April 1 to 28, 2012.
Trainers Liu Weiwei and Lei Sheng were the winners of this season becoming the first Chinese team in the history of the show to win.
Production Development and filming
The Express Pass, which was awarded to the team who finishes first on the first leg, was introduced in this season. This item allowed the holders to skip a certain task of their choosing before Leg 8. This season also featured an elimination at the Starting Line, which was first seen in the 15th American season. For the Yield, the yielded team had to turn over an hourglass (a feature that was still used for Yields in other versions of the whole franchise), which took 20 minutes. Teams also made a visit to Taiwan, making it the first time the show left Mainland China.
Filming for this season began on April 1, 2012 and ended on April 28, 2012.
Casting Applications were accepted from December 1, 2011 with open auditions taking place in Shanghai in early January. Open auditions ended early February with applicants receiving notification if they were successful on Feb 15th.
Cast Contestants included Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang, who were finalists on China's Got Talent.
After being eliminated on Leg 11, Zhang Yelin proposed to Li Yang, who accepted.
ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus (郝为加) 30Friends/Animal Lovers Chengdu, SichuanEliminated 1st(in Shanghai) (罗伯特) 42 Canada (尼克) 30Neighbors Scotland, United KingdomEliminated 2nd(in Suifenhe, Heilongjiang) (李之盛) 27 Boston, Massachusetts (俞萍) 46Father & DaughterShanghaiEliminated 3rd(in Yanji, Jilin) (俞辰静) 22 (小冰) 30Cousins/BBQ Performers Yingkou, LiaoningEliminated 4th(in Huangshan, Anhui) (小棒) 22 (苏立元) 33Newlyweds New JerseyEliminated 5th(in Nanjing, Jiangsu) (刘静雯) 32 Pennsylvania (邓凯馨) 25Fraternal TwinsPenang, MalaysiaEliminated 6th(in New Taipei City, Taiwan) (邓凯升) 25 (万黎) 21Socialites Sydney, AustraliaEliminated 7th(in Dali, Yunnan) (凯心) 23 Stockholm, Sweden (张业林) 27Dating CoupleDalian, LiaoningEliminated 8th(on Nanzhao Island, Yunnan) (李洋) 27 (阮伯克) 26Harvard Graduates New York StateThird Place (马景洋) 24 California (童尹恩) 23ModelsTaipei, TaiwanSecond Place (赵睿乔) 24 (刘伟伟) 30Trainers ShandongWinners (雷声) 40 Xi'an, Shaanxi
Results The following teams participated in the season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Note this table does not necessarily reflect all content broadcast on television due to inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order.
TeamPosition (by leg)Roadblocksperformed123456789101112 Liu Weiwei & Lei Sheng1st1st5th5th3rd4th1st4th1st1st3rd1stLiu Weiwei 6, Lei Sheng 6 Christine & Steven4th3rd7th7th6th3rd6th2nd2nd4th2nd2ndChristine 6, Steven 6 Ryan & Charlie5th5th3rd1st2nd1st4th3rd4th3rd1st3rdRyan 6, Charlie 6 Zhang Yelin & Li Yang9th4th6th3rd8th5th5th1st3rd2ndZhang Yelin 4, Li Yang 6 Janelle & Karin6th9th1st6th4th6th2nd5th5thJanelle 5, Karin 4 7th6th2nd2nd1st2nd3rd Henry & Jennifer 10th7th8th8th5th7thHenry 4, Jennifer 2 Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang3rd2nd4th4th7thXiao Bing 1, Xiao Bang 4 Yu Ping & Yu Chenjing 2nd 8th Yu Ping 1, Yu Chenjing 1 Nick & Brandon 8thNick 1, Brandon 1 Rob & Jia JiaRob 0, Jia Jia 0 Key A team placement means the team was eliminated. A indicates that the team won a Fast Forward. A indicates that the team decided to use the Express Pass on that leg. An team placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg and had to perform a Speed Bump during the next leg. A indicates that the team chose to use the Yield; indicates the team who received it. A means the team chose to use a U-Turn; indicates the team who received it; around a leg number indicates a leg where the U-Turn was available but not used. Matching coloured symbols (, , , and ) indicate teams who worked together during part of the leg as a result of an Intersection.
Notes
Christine & Steven are citizens of Taiwan, but in the program they were simply stated to be Chinese as the People's Republic of China does not recognize the Republic of China's statehood. Jia Jia & Rob were eliminated at the Starting Line as per the provisions of the first task (see below). Ryan & Charlie initially arrived 2nd, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for taking a taxi to the Detour when the clue instructed them to walk. Three teams checked-in during the penalty time, dropping Ryan & Charlie to 5th. Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang initially arrived 2nd, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for not putting their bags at the designated area at the Detour location. All other teams trailing them checked-in during the penalty time, dropping Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang to last place and resulting in their elimination. Christine & Steven and Janelle & Karin initially arrived 3rd and 5th, respectively, but both teams did not pay their taxi driver. They were instructed to return and pay their driver before being allowed to check-in. While Christine & Steven's placement were not affected, Janelle & Karin's placement were dropped to 6th. Liu Weiwei & Lei Sheng used their Express Pass to bypass the Detour in Leg 7. Khai Shing & Khai Sheng initially arrived 1st, but were issued a 1-hour penalty for taking a taxi directly to Fisherman's Wharf, instead of a ferry, as specified in the clue. All other teams trailing them checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Khai Shing & Khai Sheng to last place and resulting in their elimination. Lei Sheng chose to forfeit the Roadblock at Leg 11 and he & Liu Weiwei were issued a 2-hour penalty at the Roadblock site.
Prizes The prize for each leg is awarded to the first place team for that leg. Leg 1 – The Express Pass and two round-trip tickets to Bali, Indonesia. Leg 2 – Two round-trip tickets to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Leg 3 – Two round-trip tickets to Seoul, South Korea. Leg 4 – Two round-trip tickets to Boracay, Philippines. Leg 5 – Two round-trip tickets to Phuket, Thailand. Leg 6 – Two round-trip tickets to Brunei and a two-night stay at the Dalian Hilton Hotel. Leg 7 – Two round-trip tickets to Mauritius and a two-night stay at the Beijing Hilton Hotel. Leg 8 – Two round-trip tickets to Uluru, Australia and a two-night stay at the Guangzhou, Baiyun Hilton Hotel Leg 9 – A six-day cruise on Costa Cruises Victoria cruise liner departing from Shanghai to the Jeju Island, South Korea, then to Fukuoka, Japan and a two-night stay at the Nanjing Hilton Hotel. Leg 10 – Two round-trip tickets to Phuket, Thailand and a two-night stay at the Chongqing Hilton Hotel. Leg 11 – Two round-trip tickets to Guam, and a two-night stay at the Osaka, Japan Hilton Hotel. Leg 12 – A trip around the world.
Race Summary
Leg 1 (Shanghai → Shanxi)
Airdates: August 26, 2012 (ICS); September 1, 2012 (DragonTV) Shanghai, China (The Bund) (Starting Line and Elimination Point) Shanghai (Gutzlaff Signal Tower) to Yangcheng, Shanxi (House of the Huangcheng Chancellor) Yangcheng (Shangzhuang Village ) Yangcheng (Manghe Scenic Area – Monkey Park) Yangcheng (Manghe Scenic Area – Drinking Horse Spring)
In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to correctly assemble a bamboo swing for the local macaques using the tools provided to receive their next clue.
Additional tasks At The Bund, teams had to search through hundreds of flags and find the flag with the ancient hanzi meaning "One". The first five teams to complete the task were given tickets to the first of two buses which would take them to Yangcheng, the home of the hanzi dictionary. The next five teams were given tickets to the second bus, which would depart 45 minutes later. The last team without the correct flag would not be given tickets to Yangcheng and was eliminated. Once teams arrived at Yangcheng, they had to search the entrance of the House of the Huangcheng Chancellor to find their next clue, which instructed teams to follow a path indicated by the chancellor's maidens with lanterns to find an incomplete statue of a dragon. Teams then had to search for one missing section and attach it to the statue to receive their next clue. At Shangzhuang Village, teams had to don the traditional costumes of the Han Boat folk dance, which included a decorated boat, and then find the village magistrate with their next clue.
Leg 2 (Shanxi → Heilongjiang)
Airdates: September 2, 2012 (ICS); September 8, 2012 (DragonTV) Yangcheng to Zhengzhou, Henan (Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport) Zhengzhou (Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport) to Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang (Mudanjiang Hailang International Airport) Mudanjiang (Mudanjiang Hailang International Airport) to Suifenhe (Xinhua Bridge) Suifenhe (Suifenhe Railway Station) Suifenhe (Sino-Russian Culture and Arts Exhibition Hall) Suifenhe (Beihai Park) Suifenhe (Shuangsheng Village) Suifenhe (Central Square) Suifenhe (Unit 605 Barracks) Suifenhe (Suifenhe National Gate)
For their Speed Bump, Henry & Jennifer had to break through a block of ice containing their clue using provided ice picks.
This season's first Detour was a choice between Log It or Slog It. In Log It, teams had to chop enough wood to build a 15 level pile of wood to receive their next clue. In Slog It, teams had to search the forest for a 'singing tree' playing "Kalinka" using just a parabolic microphone and use a shovel to dig up their next clue beneath the tree.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to dress in a military uniform and make a bed by folding a blanket in a military fashion to receive their next clue.
Additional tasks At the railway station, teams had to search for a local Russian woman, selling traditional oil paintings with their next clue written on the back. At the Sino-Russian Culture and Arts Exhibition Hall, team had to choose one of ten different matryoshka dolls pieces, search the rooms to find the doll missing their piece, and present their complete set to the curator to receive their next clue.
Leg 3 (Heilongjiang → Jilin)
Airdates: September 9, 2012 (ICS); September 15, 2012 (DragonTV) Suifenhe (Suifenhe National Gate) to Yanji, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Yanji (Henan Bridge) Yanji (Gongyuan Primary School) Yanji (Tanjun Biological Technology Company) Yanji (Korean Folk Culture Village) Yanji (Jindalai Square) Yanji (Jindalai Cold Noodle Restaurant) Yanji (Yanji International Exhibition Art Center)
For this season's only Fast Forward, teams had to travel to the Tanjun Biological Technology Company and find the ginseng drying warehouse, where they had to search through millions of ginseng pieces to find one unique irregular piece. The first team to find said piece would win the Fast Forward award.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Pot Luck or Pot Belly. In Pot Luck, teams had to locate a courtyard with large pots of cabbage. Then, both team members had to transport a pot in a traditional Korean fashion on top of their head across the courtyard and back again, without touching or dropping the pot, to receive their next clue. In Pot Belly, teams had to find a marked cabin, where each team member had to consume of hot kimchi to receive their next clue. If a team member vomited, they would incur a 20-minute time penalty.
Additional tasks