The Amazing Race: China Rush 3

Development and filming

Introduced in this season is the Express Pass, which is awarded to the team who finishes first on the first Leg. This item would allow the team to skip a certain task of their choosing before leg 8. This season of the race started with an elimination at the starting line; the team who finished last on the first task at the starting line was not given bus tickets to the next destination and were eliminated.

Teams also made a visit to Taiwan, a first in the history of the show.

Filming for this season began April 1, 2012, and ended April 28, 2012.

Cast

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.

Contestants include, Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang, finalists in China's Got Talent.

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.

Prizes

The prize for each leg is awarded to the first place team for that leg.

Leg 1 (Shanghai → Shanxi)

Airdates: August 26, 2012 (ICS); September 1, 2012 (DragonTV)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to assemble a bamboo swing using the tools provided.

Leg 2 (Shanxi → Heilongjiang)

Airdates: September 2, 2012 (ICS); September 8, 2012 (DragonTV)

In the first Detour of the race, teams had to choose between Log It or Slog It. In Log It, teams had to make their way by taxi to the Zhuangsen Village forest and find the general farm. They then 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 a popular song using just a parabolic microphone. Once teams had found the correct tree, using a shovel they then had to dig up their next clue. In the roadblock of this leg, one team member had to dress in a military uniform, and were required to make the bed provided, then fold their blanket in a military fashion to receive their next clue. For the Speed Bump, Henry and Jennifer had to break through a block of ice containing their clue using the ice picks provided. Upon completing the challenge they were able to continue racing.

Leg 3 (Heilongjiang → Jilin)

Airdates: September 9, 2012 (ICS); September 15, 2012 (DragonTV)

In this leg's Detour, teams had to choose between Pot Luck or Pot Belly. In Pot Belly teams were required to find a marked cabin in the Korean Folk Culture Village and each consume 1.2 kg of hot Kimchi; if teams failed to consume the Kimchi they would incur a 20-minute time penalty. In Pot Luck teams had to locate the courtyard and find the marked pots. Once found both team members were required to each transport a pot in a traditional Korean fashion on top of their head around the courtyard and back again, without dropping or breaking the pot to receive their next clue. For this leg's Fast Forward teams had to travel to the Tungseng Biotechnology Company and find the ginseng drying warehouse. They were then required to search through millions of ginseng pieces to find one unique irregular piece. Once found they would win their Fast Forward clue.

Leg 4 (Jilin → Zhejiang)

Airdates: September 16, 2012 (ICS); September 22, 2012 (DragonTV)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Showdown or Chow Down, in Showdown teams had to travel by taxi to Pinghu Folk Culture Museum and were required to play a game of Watermelon chess. After selecting an opponent and learning the rules of the game, teams then had to defeat their opponent to receive their next clue. In Chow Down, teams had to make their way by taxi to the Meiyantang Restaurant and had to create a local delicacy called a pinghu fermented egg. To do this, teams had to crack the shells of 5 duck eggs correctly, and once the chef approved of their efforts, teams then were required to eat one pinghu fermented egg each to receive their next clue. In the roadblock one team member had to find the marked classroom and learn a famous Pipa song; they then had to make their way to the judge and perform the song on the Pipa correctly to receive their next clue.

Leg 5 (Zhejiang)

Airdates: September 23, 2012 (ICS); September 29, 2012 (DragonTV)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Head Up or Head Down. In Head Up, teams had to make their way by foot to the Bamboo forest and look for 1 of 8 clues hidden high above them on selected trees. Once found, teams were then required to use whatever means necessary to retrieve their next clue. Teams were allowed to use any objects around them, including axes or whatever was in the area to assist them with the task. In Head Down, teams had to make their way by foot to the Bamboo forest at a steep area and transport 12 bamboo poles along the marked path to receive their next clue. In the Roadblock, one team member was required to wear a wet suit and scuba gear and make their way into the water with their instructor and were required to learn a set of safety instructions taught to them by their instructor. Once learned, they had to swim to the center of the reservoir and dive for a sword stuck in the mud at the bottom of the reservoir, which had their clue attached to it and bring it back with them to obtain their next clue. For the Speed Bump in this leg, Henry and Jennifer had to search the area for the local antiques shop and were both required to eat 1.5 kg of warm river snails; once complete they would receive the next clue.

Leg 6 (Zhejiang → Anhui)

Airdates: September 30, 2012 (ICS); October 6, 2012 (DragonTV)

In this leg's Speed Bump Zhang Yelin and Li Yang were required to transport 10 kg of Hay and Grass to the opposite side of the village to the farmer using the traditional baskets provided. Once complete they received their next clue and were allowed to continue racing. In the Detour teams had to choose between Food Stall or Performance Hall. In Food Stall teams had to make their way by taxi, and by foot to the east side of the Tunxi Old Street and had to locate the Tofu vendor. Once found they then had to learn how to prepare a local dish called Hairy Tofu, and were then required to select a marked stall and sell 100 yuan worth of Tofu. Once teams had sold the required amount of Tofu, they then had to donate the money back to the Tofu Vendor in order to receive their next clue. In Performance Hall teams had to travel by taxi to the Tunxi Hot Dishes Restaurant and were required to change into traditional outfits and watch and learn 4 minutes of traditional Kunqu Opera moves, before having to perform these moves in front of the director. If teams performed them correctly they received their next clue. In the Roadblock both team members had to make their way up the mountain path to the marked area. But the team member doing the Roadblock had to make their way up a steep path to the top of the waterfall and was required to repel 120m down the waterfall into the water and swim to safety to receive their next clue.

Leg 7 (Anhui → Jiangsu)

Airdates: October 7, 2012 (ICS); October 13, 2012 (DragonTV)

In this Roadblock, one team member had to ascend to the 13th floor of the Hilton hotel and put on a chef's outfit. Then they had to properly prepare a signature dish, using only a finished example as a reference. In this leg's Detour, teams had to choose between Screw This and Scrap That. Both tasks had teams entering a warehouse of the railway factory and putting on safety gear. In Screw This, teams had to use screws to properly secure 87 sections of a high-speed railway track. In Scrap That, teams had to load scrap metal into bins and transport them across the large warehouse to a dumping site. After making six trips each, teams would receive their next clue.

Leg 8 (Jiangsu → Taiwan)

Airdates: October 14, 2012 (ICS); October 20, 2012 (DragonTV)

In this leg's Detour teams had to choose between Take Flight or Hang Tight. In Take Flight teams were required to follow the train tracks to the Three Sisters Sky Lantern Shop. After observing how to create a Sky Lantern, teams were tasked with creating a Sky Lantern out of rice paper using the materials provided. Once teams had created the lantern they then had to light the candle at the base and take their Sky Lantern outside to fly. Should teams correctly assemble their lantern and it flies they would receive their next clue. Should teams incorrectly assemble the lantern and it not fly, teams had to create a new lantern from scratch. In Hang Tight teams were required to make their way to Jingan Suspension Bridge and hang 150 Bamboo Chimes from the bridge, and with the final chime they had to write their own wish to receive their next clue. Should any of the chimes drop into the water, teams would receive a 20-minute time penalty before being allowed to continue the task. In the Roadblock the team member choosing to do the roadblock was required to wait at the designated area marked with an X, whilst the other team member traveled by taxi to the Paragliding point and were required to paraglide to their teammate below to receive their next clue.

Leg 9 (Taiwan → Guizhou)

Airdates: October 21, 2012 (ICS); October 27, 2012 (DragonTV)

In the Detour, teams had to choose between Stack It and Catch It. In Stack It, teams had to build hay into a haystack by following the methods of Miao farmers. Once the properly-made stack reached a certain height, teams would receive their next clue. In Catch It, teams had to participate in a Miao wedding tradition by catching 10 live ducks with their bare hands. Once they had successfully caught 10 ducks and put them into a container, they would get their next clue. In the Roadblock, one team member had to engage in yet another Miao wedding tradition. They had to complete a puzzle containing a picture of a Miao bride. They then had to find the woman depicted in the image and collect pieces of her wedding outfit from a large selection of clothes. Once the bride had dressed in the proper dress, teams would get their next clue.

Leg 10 (Guizhou → Yunnan)

Airdates: October 28, 2012 (ICS); November 3, 2012 (DragonTV)

For this leg's Speed Bump, Janelle and Karin had to drink 2 pitchers of Cow Milk to receive their next clue and be allowed to continue racing. In the Detour, teams had to choose between Bride or Ride. In Bride teams had to enter the city and locate several pairs of actors. With only 1 wearing the complete costume, teams then had to search the studio grounds for the actresses 5 missing bridal costume pieces, and once found had to bring them back to the required area. They then were required to dress the actress to the satisfaction of the actor to receive their next clue. In Ride teams had to make their way to the West Gate of the Cinema City and locate a wanted poster of a picture of a fugitive and a list of his crimes. Teams then were required to memorise the lines and then assume the roles of the Jailer and the Prisoner and dress in costume. The Jailer then had to transport the prisoner in a paddy wagon to the gate of the palace and once they arrived had to recite their lines to the court official correctly to receive their next clue. If teams performed their lines incorrectly, they were required to head back to the wanted poster and restart the task. In the Roadblock, one team member was required to select one 7 piece marble geometric puzzle and create a square to receive their next clue.

Leg 11 (Yunnan)

Airdates: November 4, 2012 (ICS); November 10, 2012 (DragonTV)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to rock climb up a steep cliff face to reach a basket of medicine at the top, recalling the time-honored tradition of climbing cliffs to retrieve medicinal herbs. In the Detour, teams had to choose between Teas and Seas. In Teas, teams entered the village and had to watch a tea-making ceremony at the Linden Center, after which they would taste three different teas. They then had to enter a different room and pick out these three teas from a selection of cups using only their senses of taste and smell. In Seas, teams traveled to the shores of Erhai Lake, where they would have to use a rowboat to deliver a cormorant to a fishing boat on the lake. They would exchange the bird for a basket of fish, which they could return to shore and exchange for their next clue.

Leg 12 (Yunnan → Sichuan)

Airdates: November 11, 2012 (ICS); November 17, 2012 (DragonTV)

In this leg's Roadblock one team member had to make their way through the Huanglonxi Historic Town to the Lonpan Square, and were then required to locate their team of dragon dancers who each had an image of a previously eliminated team on their arm. They then were required to dress in a traditional dragon dancer costume and arrange their dancers in the order of elimination at which city of the previous teams. Once complete the team member had to observe the dragon dancers performance and then join in, taking the role of the Dragons Tail. Once the team member performed the routine correctly, they received their next clue. In this leg's second Roadblock one team member had to tackle the Hua Rong Path, to do this, they had to re arrange several large blocks on a grid to guide the Cao Cao block to the end of the path to receive their next clue.