The Amazing Race: China Rush 1

Cast

Applications for the first season ended April 16, 2010 (extended from the original deadline on March 29, 2010). The 10 teams call composed of expats living in China were announced in a press release on April 27, 2010. Filming took place between April 28 and June 3, 2010.

Karen is currently the first ever Canadian to be on any of the Amazing Race seasons representing Canada (Canadian citizens Tisha Silang, Natalie Glebova and Vince Chung from The Amazing Race Asia 3 were representing Philippines, Thailand and Hong Kong respectively). Rick, Joshua and Charlie are the first Australians to represent their country (similarly, Australian citizens Henry & Bernie of The Amazing Race Asia 3 represented Malaysia), Paul and Francis are the first team from an African country (Kenya), and Janis, Aleksandra (Latvia) and Sarah (England) are the first Europeans to represent their home countries (British citizens Andy Lawson, Laura Kluk, Francesca von Etzdorf and Howard Bicknell from The Amazing Race Asia 1 represented Thailand, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka respectively and Frenchwoman Aurelia Chenat of The Amazing Race Asia 2 represented Hong Kong).

Development and filming

In this version, instead of flipping an hourglass, teams that have been forced to Yield must wait until a spiral of incense has finished burning, which takes 15 minutes. This is the first race from any franchise to have three non-elimination legs in a row. The American and Asian editions have never had more than two in a row. This was also the first version to not offer any Fast Forward clues (leg 7 of season 14 had a Fast Forward clue that was not aired and no Fast Forward was shown in season 18 either).

Broadcasting

Episode 2 which scheduled to air on August 15, 2010 was delayed to subsequent week due to National Mourning Day in China for Gansu mudslide victims.

Marketing

The Amazing Race: China Rush has eight official sponsors, they are CIIC, Double Tree, Hamilton, Hilton, New Balance, Organic Food, Travelzen and Shanghai International Automobile City.

Results

The following teams participated in the Race, 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.

A red team placement indicates that the team was eliminated.

An underlined blue team placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg and had to perform a Speed Bump task in the following leg.

A yellow > indicates that the team chose to use the Yield; < indicates the team who received it.

A brown ⊃ indicates means the team chose to use a U-Turn; ⊂ indicates the team who received it.

Prizes

The prize for each leg is awarded to the first place team for that leg. All trips are sponsored by TravelZen.

Leg 1 – A Three-day Two-night trip for two to Hangzhou.

Leg 2 – A Three-day Two-night trip for two to Xiamen.

Leg 3 – A Three-day Two-night trip for two to Hong Kong.

Leg 4 – A Three-day Two-night trip for two to Xi'an.

Leg 5 – A Three-day Two-night trip for two to Inner Mongolia.

Leg 6 – A Six-day Five-night trip for two to Mount Huang, Mount Lu and Mount Hua.

Leg 7 – A Three-day Two-night trip for two to Macau.

Leg 8 – A Three-day Two-night trip for two to Lhasa.

Leg 9 – A Six-day Five-night trip for two to Taiwan.

Leg 10 – A Six-day Five-night trip for two to Yunnan.

Leg 11 - Round-Trip tickets to 10 destinations.

Leg 12 - World Trip

Leg 1 (Shanghai → Zhejiang)

Shanghai, China (Shanghai Expo Park) (Starting Line)

Shanghai (Shanghai South Railway Station) to Ningbo, Zhejiang (Ningbo Railway Station)

Ningbo (Zhenbao Fang Restaurant)

Ningbo (Lao Waitan) (Overnight Rest)

Ningbo (Strawberry Farm)

Ningbo (Dongqian Lake)

Ningbo (Tianyi Chamber)

Ningbo (Ningbo Scenic Waterfront)

Ningbo (Ningbo Grand Theater)

In the first Roadblock of the race, one team member had to eat a turtle, leaving nothing but the shell.

Additional tasks

Once in the Shanghai South Railway Station, teams had to find a lady with an orange umbrella for tickets to their next destination.

In Lao Wai Tan, teams picked departure times for next day.

In the Strawberry Farm, teams had to pick 5 kilograms (11 lb) of strawberries to receive their next clue.

In the Dongqian Lake, teams had to play a game of paintball and pick up all 10 same colored flag to receive their next clue.

In the Ningbo Scenic Waterfront, teams had to complete a 100 pieces puzzle in order to receive their next clue.

Leg 2 (Zhejiang → Jiangsu)

Ningbo (Ningbo Bus Station) to Wuxi, Jiangsu (Wuxi Bus Station)

Wuxi (Nanchan Temple)

Wuxi (Dama Tofu Shop)

Wuxi (3 Kingdoms Movie Studio)

Wuxi (Turtle Head Park)

Wuxi (Lingshan Buddha)

Wuxi (Lingshan "Five-signets" Palace)

In the second Roadblock of the race, one team member had to match 1 brick with 1000 different bricks, matching the one which they chose. In this leg's Detour, teams chose between Warriors Strength and Warriors Skill. In Warriors Strength, that team must take a boat to an island and perform a ladder climb and rappelling from other side to receive their next clue. In Warriors Skill, that team must hit a bulleye using spears and arrows from the distance of 10m to receive their clue. For this leg's Speed Bump, Paul & Francis had to each make a clay tea cup in order to continue on the race.

Additional tasks

At Nanchan Temple, teams were instructed to take a boat down the river and find a building which has 3 green colored lanterns on it.

In Turtle Head Park, teams searched the garden for the clue box.

In Lingshan Temple, teams had to search for the smaller version of Buddha where their next clue awaits.

In Lingshan Temple, teams climbed 88m (217 steps), where they had to count all the flower pots decorating the monument. Once they had the correct answer (1509), the monk would give them their next clue.

Leg 3 (Jiangsu)

Wuxi (Wuxi Railway Station) to Changzhou (Changzhou Railway Station)

Changzhou (Qingfeng Sports Park)

Changzhou (Changzhou Comb Factory)

Changzhou (Miduqiao Primary School)

Changzhou (City Wall)

Changzhou (Baguo Buyi Restaurant)

Changzhou (Yancheng Remains)

In this leg's Detour, teams chose between Rock and Roll. In Rock, teams took a boat across a lake and climbed to the top of the climbing wall to receive their next clue. In Roll, teams located a bicycle cart with a skateboard. One team member then had to take control of the bicycle and cycle around the park to the skating park while the other rode on the skateboard. Once at the skating park, they will receive their next clue. For this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to navigate a boat through currents to the other side of the jetty, retrieve a flag and return the boat back in order to receive the next clue.

Additional tasks

At Qingfeng Sports Park, teams found their next clue at the top of a staircase.

In Changzhou Comb Factory, teams had to search for one out of 9 combs which have Chinese characters "常州"(Changzhou). Afterwards, they proceeded to Miduqiao Primary School and combed and tied the hair of 10 female students. When they were done, the teacher would hand the teams their next clue.

In Baguo Buyi Restaurant, teams played a game of baijiu (white wine) roulette. A rotating plate with a clue was spun. If the clue landed in front of them, they could then proceed; otherwise, the team had to finish the wine in front of them.

Leg 4 (Jiangsu)

Changzhou (Runyang Bridge)

Yangzhou (Ge Gardens)

Yangzhou (Dongguan Street)

Yangzhou (Yangzhou Ren Jia International Hotel)

Yangzhou (Yangzhou Railway Station - Platform 1)

In this leg's Detour, teams chose between Blade and Brush. In Blade, one team member had to cut out the shape of Haibao, the mascot ot Expo 2010, while the other team member traced and cut out the background. In Brush, one team member had to correctly write out a specific Chinese character, while the other reproduced a painting of a bamboo grove. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member ate 1.5 kg of Yangzhou's famous fried rice in order to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

In Runyang Bridge, teams received their next clue at the top of the bridge.

Leg 5 (Jiangsu → Beijing)

Changzhou (Changzhou Railway Station) to Beijing (Beijing Railway Station)

Beijing (Summer Palace)

Beijing (Quanjude)

Beijing (798 art district)

Beijing (Yan club arts center)

Beijing (Bird's Nest)

Beijing (Great Wall of China)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to learn how to properly carve Peking Roast Duck. In this Detour, teams had to choose between Go for the Gold and Go for the Goal. In Go for the Gold, teams had to search amongst the thousands of seats in the stadium to find one of seven gold medals. In Go for the Goal, one team member would kick a penalty shot with a soccer ball and the other team member must successfully rebound it into an unguarded goal using only their head.

Additional tasks

In 798 art district, teams had to search for a large sculpture of a red monster that would be holding the clue box.

At the Yan Club Arts Center, teams had to participate in a team building communication exercise. In this exercise, one team member would be given a drawing. The other team member, who was prevented from seeing the aforementioned drawing, had to recreate the drawing using only verbal clues from the first team member.

Leg 6 (Beijing → Shandong)

Beijing (Beijing Railway Station) to Tai'an, Shandong (Tai'an Railway Station)

Tai'an (Dai Temple)

Tai'an (Tianwaicun Square)

Tai'an (Dragon Reservoir Dam)

Tai'an (Fengshan Dadian)

Tai'an (Taishan Stone Shop)

Tai'an (Mount Tai)

Tai'an (Peak of Mount Tai)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb up the dam and make their way to a nearby pavilion to receive the next clue. In this Detour, teams had to choose between Trees or Keys. In Trees, teams had to plant a tree to receive their next clue. In Keys, teams had to use one of the keys to open a lock to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

In Dai Temple, teams had to search for the clue box in the compound of the temple.

At Fengshan Dadian, teams dressed up in traditional costume and had to travel by foot along a marked path to the stage area. Once there, they had to bow to the empress to receive their next clue.

At Taishan Stone Shop, teams had to search for a hidden stone tablet inscribed with the Chinese characters for "China Rush" in order to receive their next clue.

At Taishan Stone Shop, teams were instructed to carry the tablet and travel to Mount Tai via shuttle bus and cable-car. At the summit, they could drop off the tablet in exchange for their next clue. When the gates aren't open, they must go back to the shop and wait until it is open. If teams broke the tablet, they would return to the shop and find another tablet.

Leg 7 (Shandong)

Tai'an (Tai'an Railway Station) to Qingdao (Qingdao Railway Station)

Qingdao (Polar Ocean World)

Qingdao (Badaguan Beach)

Qingdao (Badaguan Beach or Qingdao Beer Street)

Qingdao (Zhanqiao Pier - Yacht)

During the Pit Stop, teams traveled by train from Tai'an to Qingdao. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to scuba dive down the water and search for seven red letters, then they had to write down the word A-B-A-L-O-N-E to receive their next clue. In this Detour, teams had to choose between Buried Metal or Carried Metal. In Buried Metal, teams had to search a compass in the sand using a metal detector to receive their next clue. In Carried Metal, teams had to make their way to the Qingdao Beer Street, once there, they had to transport 6 full kegs from one end of the street to the other, in order to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

At Polar Ocean World, teams had to prepare 20 kilograms (44 lb) of fish and then they had to feed a whale to receive their next clue. Afterwards, they had to retrieve their Roadblock information from the observation tunnel.

At Zhanqiao Pier, teams had to ride a motorboat to the Pit Stop.

Leg 8 (Shandong → Sichuan)

Qingdao (Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center)

Qingdao (Qingdao Liuting International Airport) to Chengdu, Sichuan (Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport)

Chengdu (People's Square)

Chengdu (Hot Pot Restaurant or Historic lanes)

Chengdu (Tianfu Square)

Chengdu (Du Fu Thatched Cottage)

Chengdu (Chunxi road)

In this Detour, teams must choose between Hot Pot or Tea Pot. In Hot Pot, teams travel to the Hot Pot Restaurant. Then, teams will have to eat a family-sized serving of meat, cocoa and lettuce, which has been dipped in Sichuan's famous fiery Hot Pot soup. In addition, they will have to eat a side serving of diced red peppers. Finally, they would have to find a Face-Changer to receive their next clue. In Tea Pot, teams will travel to a historic part of the area and then, with the assistance of two tea masters, they must use ancient tea pots to properly pour tea into 7 teacups per team member. The tea pots have long spouts and are fairly difficult to use. In the Speed Bump, Karen & Lisa were required to both have their ears cleaned using traditional ear cleaning tools, which are, in essence, pieces of cotton on sticks of wire. In the Roadblock, one team member would have to search the entire 24-acre area of the Du Fu Cottage to find a scroll. No lights would be turned on, and the teams could only use a single flashlight.

Additional tasks

At the Sailing Center, teams needed to learn how to properly rig a sail onto a sailboat. If successful, the sailboat would take the team to a raft where they would receive their next clue.

Leg 9 (Sichuan)

Chengdu (Living Water Park)

Chengdu (Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding)

Chengdu to Dujiangyan

Dujiangyan (Lidui Park)

Dujiangyan (Hongkou Primary School)

Dujiangyan (Miaoba Rafting Pier)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member would have to wash 10 kg of bamboo leaves to clean it and then bring it all to the panda feeding area. Should any of the leaves drop to the ground along the way, teams would have to start the entire task over again. In the Speed Bump, Deepak and Naresh had to learn and recite a song about Dujiangyan. In this Detour, teams had to choose between Face Detection or Face Detention. In Face Detection, teams would receive a partial picture of a child's face. They then had to find the child in the picture in one of the classrooms. They then had to take the child to the headmaster's office. In Face Detention, teams will receive a sentence written in Chinese and they must copy the sentence 50 times onto a blackboard without making any errors. Should an error be made, the entire task would have to be restarted.

Additional Task

To get to the Pit Stop, teams had to ride a raft down a river.

Leg 10 (Sichuan → Yunnan)

Chengdu (Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport) to Kunming, Yunnan (Kunming Wujiaba International Airport)

Kunming to Tengchong, Baoshan

Tengchong (Anti-Aggression War Memorial)

Tengchong (Beihai Wetlands)

Tengchong (Yunfeng Shan - Temple)

Tengchong (Tengchong Volcano Park)

Tengchong (Heshun Ancient Village)

Tengchong (Wenxing Lou)

In the Roadblock, one team member had to play Wetland Golf. They would pick up a club and some Tennis Balls and hit them towards the hole. If all of the tennis balls landed in the water, they had to retrieve them and try again, but if they could get at least one to land on the island with the hole, they would receive their next clue. In the Speed Bump, Charlie & Rachel had to help a local farmer and use two water buffalo to plow a field. They had to complete three laps. The Detour was a choice between Fish and Float. In Fish, teams had to catch two fish in a rice paddy with their bare hands. in Float, teams will be given some bamboo and rope and must build a raft. They must then paddle it across Wild Duck Lake. If it does not sink, they will receive their next clue.

Additional Task

At the Yunfeng Shan Temple, teams had to use a donkey to transport 20kg of wood to another temple at the top of the mountain. If the donkeys got tired or refused to cooperate, teams could carry the wood on their backs instead.

Leg 11 (Yunnan → Guangdong)

Tengchong (Tengchong Airport) to Guangzhou, Guangdong (Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport)

Guangzhou to Zhaoqing

Zhaoqing (Longchuan Seafood Restaurant)

Zhaoqing (Old City Wall) (Overnight Rest)

Zhaoqing (Bagua Village)

Zhaoqing (Dinghu Mountain)

Zhaoqing (Flying Water Pool)

Zhaoqing (Seven Star Crags)

Zhaoqing (Lou Yuejiang)

In the Roadblock, one team member would have to rappel down a large waterfall. They would then have to swim to a small platform with their next clue. The Detour was a choice between Crags and Cranes. In Crags, teams made their way to an ancient cave. They would find tablets with numbers and Chinese characters. The Chinese characters would translate to an island in the park that contained 500 statues. Teams would have to use the numbers to find the correct statue to find their next clue. In Cranes, teams had to find another island in the park dedicated to the protection of the red-crowned crane. They would then have to herd 7 cranes into a pen.

Additional Task

At the Longchuan Seafood Restaurant teams had to eat 10 cockroaches.

At the Bagua Village, teams had to find the well and fill buckets with water. They then had to transfer this water to the village's direct center where they would find a large container to fill. Once the container was filled, teams would receive their next clue.

Leg 12 (Guangdong → Shanghai)

Zhaoqing to Guangzhou

Guangzhou (Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport) to Shanghai (Shanghai Pudong International Airport)

Shanghai (International Automobile City)

Shanghai (International Automobile City - Automobile Museum)

Shanghai (International Automobile City - Test Track)

Shanghai (Shanghai Expo Park – South Africa Pavilion)

Shanghai (Shanghai Expo Park – China Railway Pavilion)

Shanghai (The Bund)

Shanghai (Oriental Pearl Tower)

The Roadblock was for one team member to climb to the top of a giant metal wheel to find their next clue. They must then rappel back down to the ground.

Additional tasks

At the Automobile Museum, teams had to find either the 1958 Fiat 500, the 1964 Jaguar XKE or the 1966 Shanghai SH761 amongst many vintage cars and successfully start it. Then, they had to return the keys to the representative to get their next clue.

At the test track, teams had to drive one lap around the track while obeying three different speed limits. If they went 3km/h over or under the limit, they would have to start again. The twist was that only the team member not driving would be able to see the speedometer.

At the South Africa Pavilion, teams would find five wine bottles and five glasses of wine. Teams had to match the glasses to the bottles to receive their next clue.

At the China Railway Pavilion, teams would find a map of China. They then had to correctly identify the Pit Stops from the race in chronological order to receive their next clue.

The clue found at The Bund was written entirely in Mandarin Chinese.