The Amazing Race China 3 Explained

Module1:
Num Teams:8
Num Legs:10
Km Traveled:61,300
Num Episodes:10
Network:Shenzhen TV
Prev Series:Season 2

The Amazing Race China 3 is the third season of The Amazing Race China, a Chinese reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. Hosted by Singapore based Chinese-American actor Allan Wu, it featured eight teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship and including at least one celebrity contestant, in a race around the world. This season visited four continents and ten countries and travelled over 61300km (38,100miles) during ten leg. Starting in Beijing, racers travelled through Greece, Germany, Japan, Russia, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Spain, Italy, the United States, Mexico and Brazil before finishing in Rio de Janeiro. As this season coincided with the 2016 Summer Olympics, this season was themed after the Summer Olympic Games with each visited city previously serving as a Summer Olympics host city and many tasks themed after Olympic sports. Starting with this season, the show's name was also changed from The Amazing Race to The Amazing Race China. The season premiered on Shenzhen TV on 8 July 2016 and concluded on 16 September 2016.

Married couple Guo Jingjing and Huo Qigang were the winners of this season, while models Liu Chang and Jin Dachuan finished in second place and friends Liu Xiang and Xu Qifeng finished in third place.

Production

Development and filming

Tapings for the series begin on April 18 in Beijing and ended on July 23 in Rio de Janeiro.

This season changed its name from The Amazing Race to The Amazing Race China, with the changing name shown on the clues and promotion for the show, and also adopting the American-style title sequence (based on Season 23) instead of a unique title card used for the first two seasons. All the cities visited in this series had hosted Summer Olympics, and the finale was set in the host city of 2016 Summer OlympicsRio de Janeiro, Brazil. As such, the theme for the season was based on the Olympic Games.[1]

In this season, two twists were renamed. The Save was renamed to Return Ticket and Versus was renamed to Face Off.

This is also the first season in The Amazing Race China that the Finish Line was not held in the home nation of China, and none of the eliminated teams were present at the Finish Line.

Release

Programming

A preview episode, sponsored by Centaine, was broadcast before the start of the episode, featuring a few minutes on the start of the leg, as well as snippets from the previous episode.

Similar to previous seasons, a two-part special season-end reunion and recap titled Jin Xing Reviewing the Race aired a week after the season finale aired on 23 and 30 September 2016. The show, hosted by Jin Xing (also a racer this season and host of The Jin Xing Show), discusses the top four of eight teams to review the season as a whole.[2]

Marketing

This season featured brand new sponsors which were prominently featured in the show as well as on promotional material. Infiniti left as the main sponsor to produce Race the World, with By-Health becoming the main sponsor for this season. In each leg, teams were able to pick up McDonald's food and Eastroc Super Drink at specific points, and the top three were given By-Health protein drinks at every Pit Stop once they were officially checked-in. The show was also sponsored by Centaine, Bactroban and LiangMianZhen toothpaste.

Cast

Similar to the first and second season, this season featured celebrities who were chosen to race on the show. Among which teams include a former Olympic diver, members from SNH48, and news anchors from Greater China Live. Taiwanese-American singer and former F4 members Wu Jianhao or Vanness Wu also involved in this season along with his sister, Yao Fengfeng or Melody.

Originally, Huang Jingyu and Xu Weizhou were cast, but were axed at the last minute for unknown reasons and were replaced by Season 1 racers Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan.[3]

After Leg 2, upon the recommendation of doctors, Ji Longxiang (of Liu Xiang & Ji Longxiang) had to quit the show. Liu Xiang's partner and best friend Xu Qifeng replaced Ji starting on Leg 3.[4]

ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus
(张美曦)32Fellow Broadcasters Shenzhen, GuangzhouEliminated 1st
(in Schwangau, Germany)
(臧雅菲)36Yanbian, Jilin
(吉龙祥)Liu Xiang's CousinMedically Removed
(in Tokyo, Japan)
(金星)(Returned to competition)Eliminated 2nd
(in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan)
(汉斯)
(黄婷婷)24Groupmates/SNH48Nanjing, JiangsuEliminated 3rd
(in Barcelona, Spain)
(孙芮)21Harbin, Heilongjiang
(金星)48MarriedShenyang, LiaoningEliminated 4th
(in Rome, Italy)
(汉斯)48Germany
(张哲瀚)25Partners/Actors Xinyu, JiangxiEliminated 5th
(in Santa Monica, California)
(张思帆)23Beijing
(吴建豪)38SiblingsSanta Monica, CaliforniaEliminated 6th
(in San Juan Teotihuacán, Mexico)
(姚凤凤)25
(刘翔)33Best FriendsShanghaiThird Place
(徐琦峰)33
(金大川)23Partners/Models
The Amazing Race 1 (Chinese season)
Tai'an, ShandongSecond Place
(刘畅)30Dongtai, Jiangsu
(郭晶晶)34MarriedBaoding, HebeiWinners
(霍启刚)37Hong Kong
Future appearancesSNH48 racer Huang Tingting would later appear during the first leg of the next season as a replacement to another racer, who was unable to attend the tapings on that time.[5]

Results

The following teams participated in the season, each listed along with their placements in each leg and relationships as identified by the program. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television, owing to the inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:

TeamPosition (by leg)Roadblocks
performed
12345678910
Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang6th6th4th3rd3rd3rd4th1st2nd1stGuo Jingjing 5, Huo Qigang 6
Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan1st2nd2nd2nd2nd5th1st3rd2ndLiu Chang 4, Jin Dachuan 7
Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng
Liu Xiang & Ji Longxiang
3rd5th6th,1st3rd3rd1st3rdLiu Xiang 7, Xu Qifeng 3,
Ji Longxiang 1
7th4th
Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng3rd5th6th1st1st4th2nd2ndWu Jianhao 5, Yao Fengfeng 4
Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan5th1st5th4th5th2ndZhang Zhehan 4, Zhang Sifan 2
Jin Xing & Heinz4th3rd,4th,Jin Xing 4,, Heinz 3
Huang Tingting & Sun Rui2nd7th1st6th,Huang Tingting 2, Sun Rui 4
Zhang Meixi & Zang YafeiZhang Meixi 2, Zang Yafei 1
Key
Notes
  1. Liu Xiang originally entered the competition with his cousin Ji Longxiang (Chinese: 吉龙祥). After Leg 2, it was determined that Ji was not medically fit to continue with the season. Starting on Leg 3, Ji was replaced by Liu's best friend Xu Qifeng.
  2. Jin Xing & Heinz used the Express Pass given to them by Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan bypass the Roadblock on Leg 3. Before using the Express Pass, Jin Xing elected to perform the Roadblock; this is reflected in the total Roadblock count.
  3. Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng and Jin Xing & Heinz initially arrived 3rd and 5th respectively, but each teams were issued 30-minute penalties for quitting the sushi-eating task. Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng's placement was not affected by the penalty, while the last two teams trailing Jin Xing & Heinz (Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan and Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengeng) checked in during their penalty time, dropping Jin Xing & Heinz to last place; however, Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan used their Return Ticket to save them from elimination.
  4. Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng initially arrived 1st, but they were issued two penalties totaling 75 minutes (a 1-hour penalty for forfeiting the sushi challenge entirely and a 15-minute penalty for not completing the Fujiyama challenge correctly). Five teams checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng to 6th.
  5. Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng used their Express Pass to bypass the Detour on Leg 4.
  6. Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan initially arrived 3rd, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for hiring private transportation during this leg, breaking a rule which prohibits hitch-hiking. Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang checked-in during the penalty time, dropping Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan to 4th.
  7. Huang Tingting & Sun Rui initially arrived 4th, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for crossing the red lights while on the way to the Military Edge Flower Detour. Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan and Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Huang Tingting & Sun Rui to 6th.
  8. Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng were issued a 20-minute penalty for putting too many ingredients in their food at the paella task.
  9. Huang Tingting & Sun Rui were issued a 10-minute penalty for not putting enough rice in their food at the paella task.
  10. Jin Xing & Heinz were issued a 10-minute penalty for overcooking their food at the paella task.
  11. Jin Xing & Heinz and Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng initially arrived 2nd and 6th, respectively, but both teams were issued 1-hour penalties for quitting the Roadblock challenge. Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng's placement were not affected by the penalty, while Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan and Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang checked-in during Jin Xing & Heinz's penalty time, dropping them to 4th.
  12. Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan initially arrived 5th, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for not wearing their sleeping caps while performing the Sleepwalker Detour challenge. This did not affect their placement.
  13. Huang Tingting & Sun Rui initially arrived 3rd, but were issued two penalties totaling 90 minutes (a 1-hour penalty for quitting the Roadblock challenge and a 30-minute penalty for not wearing their sleeping caps while performing the Sleepwalker Detour challenge). The last four teams trailing them checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Huang Tingting & Sun Rui to last place and resulting in their elimination.
  14. Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng initially arrived 2nd, but were issued a 30-minute penalty as Wu Jianhao had walked past the permitted distance where team members are required to remain in-between each other, which was specifically prohibited by the rules. Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang and Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng to last place and resulting in their elimination.
  15. Liu Xiang (of Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng) elected to quit the final leg's Roadblock, but since they were the last team to arrive at the Finish Line, their 1-hour penalty were not issued.

Race summary

Leg 1 (China → Greece)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 2 (Greece → Germany)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 3 (Japan)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 4 (Japan → Russia)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 5 (China → Hong Kong → Spain)

Locations
Episode summary
YearCityMascotYearCityMascot
1972Munich Waldi1996AtlantaIzzy
1976Montreal Amik2000SydneyOlly, Syd and Millie
1980Moscow Misha2004Athens Athena and Phevos
1984Los Angeles Sam2008Beijing Fuwa
1988Seoul Hodori2012London Wenlock
1992Barcelona Cobi2016Rio Vinicius
Additional notes
TeamVote
Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfengbgcolor=tan Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan
Liu Chang & Jin Dachuanbgcolor=tan Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan
Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigangbgcolor=tan Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan
Zhang Zhehan & Zhang SifanWu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng
Liu Xiang & Xu Qifengbgcolor=tan Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan
Huang Tingting & Sun RuiWu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng
Jin Xing & HeinzWu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng

Leg 6 (Spain → Italy)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 7 (United States)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 8 (United States)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 9 (United States → Mexico)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 10 (Mexico → Brazil)

Locations
Episode summary
CitiesFlags
Beijing China
Athens Greece
Munich Germany
Tokyo Japan
Moscow
Barcelona Spain
Rome Italy
Los Angeles United States
Atlanta
Mexico City Mexico
Rio de Janeiro Brazil

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://ent.qq.com/a/20160318/009669.htm#p=1. zh:郭晶晶霍启刚将上《极速前进》 刘翔携至亲应战. QQ. zh. March 18, 2016. April 19, 2016.
  2. Web site: 《金姐聊极速》金星弥补极速最大遗憾. zh. Sina Corp. 23 September 2016. 2 January 2021.
  3. News: [独家]黄景瑜被封杀? 《极速前进》换人《快本》不播]. zh. 15 April 2016. 15 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160415163625/http://ent.ifeng.com/a/20160415/42606055_0.shtml. 15 April 2016. dead.
  4. News: 刘翔真人秀再展跨栏绝技却被骂 表弟中途退赛. zh. iFensi. 28 June 2016. 2 January 2020.
  5. Web site: SNH48黄婷婷搭档许杨玉琢 赛龙舟夺冠被范冰冰赞. zh. Sina Corp. 7 August 2017. 1 January 2021.