The Amazing Race China 3

The Amazing Race China 3
Season 3
Presented byAllan Wu
No. of teams8
WinnerGuo Jingjing & Huo Qigang
No. of legs10
Distance traveled61,300 km (38,100 mi)
No. of episodes10
Release
Original networkShenzhen TV
Original release8 July (2016-07-08) –
16 September 2016 (2016-09-16)
Additional information
Filming dates18 April (2016-04-18) –
23 July 2016 (2016-07-23)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 2
Next →
Season 4

The Amazing Race China 3 (Chinese: 极速前进第三季) is the third season of The Amazing Race China (Chinese: 极速前进; pinyin: Jísù Qiánjìn), 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 61,300 kilometres (38,100 mi) 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

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Development and filming

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The Juyong Pass at the Great Wall of China was the Starting Line of The Amazing Race China 3.

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

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Programming

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A preview episode (极速抢先看), 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 (金姐聊极速) 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

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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

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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]

Contestants Age Relationship Hometown Status
Zhang Meixi (张美曦) 32 Fellow Broadcasters Shenzhen, Guangzhou Eliminated 1st
(in Schwangau, Germany)
Zang Yafei (臧雅菲) 36 Yanbian, Jilin
Ji Longxiang (吉龙祥) Liu Xiang's Cousin Medically Removed
(in Tokyo, Japan)
Jin Xing (金星) (Returned to competition) Eliminated 2nd
(in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan)
Heinz Gerd Oidtmann (汉斯)
Huang Tingting (黄婷婷) 24 Groupmates/SNH48 Nanjing, Jiangsu Eliminated 3rd
(in Barcelona, Spain)
Sun Rui (孙芮) 21 Harbin, Heilongjiang
Jin Xing (金星) 48 Married Shenyang, Liaoning Eliminated 4th
(in Rome, Italy)
Heinz Oidtmann (汉斯) 48 Germany
Zhang Zhehan (张哲瀚) 25 Partners/Actors Xinyu, Jiangxi Eliminated 5th
(in Santa Monica, California)
Zhang Sifan (张思帆) 23 Beijing
Wu Jianhao (吴建豪) 38 Siblings Santa Monica, California Eliminated 6th
(in San Juan Teotihuacán, Mexico)
Yao Fengfeng (姚凤凤) 25
Liu Xiang (刘翔) 33 Best Friends Shanghai Third Place
Xu Qifeng (徐琦峰) 33
Jin Dachuan (金大川) 23 Partners/Models
The Amazing Race 1 (Chinese season)
Tai'an, Shandong Second Place
Liu Chang (刘畅) 30 Dongtai, Jiangsu
Guo Jingjing (郭晶晶) 34 Married Baoding, Hebei Winners
Huo Qigang (霍启刚) 37 Hong Kong
Future appearances

SNH48 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

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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:

Team Position (by leg) Roadblocks
performed
1 2 3 4 5 6+ 7 8+ 9+ 10
Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang 6th 6th 4th 3rd 3rd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd 1st Guo Jingjing 5, Huo Qigang 6
Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan 1st 2nd 2nd 2ndε5 2nd 5th 1st 4th 3rd 2nd Liu Chang 4, Jin Dachuan 7
Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng1
Liu Xiang & Ji Longxiang
3rd3 5th 6th8,11 1st 3rd 3rd 1st 3rd15 Liu Xiang 711, Xu Qifeng 3,
Ji Longxiang 1
7th 4th
Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng 3rd 5th 6th4 1stƒ 1st 4th 2nd 2nd 4th14 Wu Jianhao 5, Yao Fengfeng 4
Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan 5th 1st 5th 4th6 5th12 2nd 5th Zhang Zhehan 4, Zhang Sifan 2
Jin Xing & Heinz 4th 3rd 7thε2,3 7thß 4th10,11 6th Jin Xing 42,11, Heinz 3
Huang Tingting & Sun Rui 2nd 7th 1st 6th7 7th9,13 Huang Tingting 2, Sun Rui 413
Zhang Meixi & Zang Yafei 8th 8th Zhang Meixi 2, Zang Yafei 1
Key
  • A red team placement means the team was eliminated.
  • A green ƒ indicates that the team won a Fast Forward.
  • A purple ε indicates that the team decided to use an Express Pass on that leg.
  • A blue team placement indicates that the team came in last but was not eliminated.
    • An underlined blue team's 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 fuchsia ß indicates that a team was brought back into the competition by means of the Return Ticket used on the previous leg.
  • A brown ⊂ indicates the team who received a U-Turn; indicates that the team voted for the recipient.
  • An orange + next to a leg number indicates that there was a Face Off on that leg, while an orange − indicates the team that lost the Face Off and received a pre-determined time penalty.
Notes
  1. ^ Liu Xiang originally entered the competition with his cousin Ji Longxiang (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

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Race route map
Destinations Air travel    Rail travel    Water travel    Bus travel
Helicopter travel    Bicycle travel    Gondola travel
Route Markers 绕道 (Detour)    路障 (Roadblock)    快进 (Fast Forward)    对抗 (Face Off)
联合 (Intersection)    回转 (U-Turn)    减速带 (Speed Bump)    中继站 (Pit Stop)

Leg 1 (China → Greece)

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The ruins of Epidaurus near Athens, which hosted the 1896 and 2004 games, was the location of the first Detour.
Locations
Episode summary
  • Teams set off from Juyong Pass in Beijing and had to run up the Great Wall of China, grab a flag from one of eight warriors and bring it back down to a Ming dynasty warrior with their next clue, which directed them to the Beijing National Stadium.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to get high?" In this season's first Roadblock, one team member was harnessed and hoisted into the air, just like the dancers from the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, and had to make five forward flips while being raised upwards and five backwards flips while being lowered in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams were driven to the airport, find the Turkish Airlines lounge and claim a departure time after landing in Athens, starting at 9:45 a.m. and continuing every three minutes, before receiving their next clue and leg money from Ronald McDonald. Once in Athens, teams then had to travel by taxi to Epidaurus in Argolis in order to find their next clue.
  • Detour: Archimedes or Spartan Warriors This season's first Detour was a choice between Archimedes (阿基米德Ājīmǐdé) or Spartan Warriors (斯巴达勇士Sībādáyǒngshì). In Archimedes, teams have to solve a 14-piece tangram in order to receive their next clue. If teams found their puzzle too difficult, they had to hike to the top of the amphitheatre in order to receive a scroll showing the placement of two pieces. In Spartan Warriors, both team members had to throw a javelin into a haybale and throw a discus beyond a line in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to travel to the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and perform the changing of the guard routine of the Greek Presidential Guards known as Evzones in order to receive their next clue. Team then travelled to the Athens Olympic Stadium and were presented with a board filled with Chinese Olympic athletes and various Olympic sports. From this selection, they had to pick out the 10 gold medal winners and match them to their sport in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Wall of Nations.
Additional notes

Leg 2 (Greece → Germany)

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Teams ended the second leg near Bavaria's Neuschwanstein Castle outside of Munich, which hosted the 1972 games.
  • Episode 2 (22 July 2016)
  • Prize: A Return Ticket[b] and a trip to New Zealand and Australia (awarded to Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan)
  • Eliminated: Zhang Meixi & Zang Yafei
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Munich, Germany. Once there, teams found their next clue in the airport instructing them to travel by taxi to the Englischer Garten. There, teams had to pick a dachshund, then every team had to race with their dachshunds. The first team to finish the course received a stuffed toy Waldi listing the location of their next clue (St. Peter's Church), while the remaining teams had to wait five minutes for the next race. The last losing team had to wait five minutes before they could continue racing. After travelling to the church, teams had to climb 306 steps to the top of its tower and spot a marked car with their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to hear the sound of wind?" In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to ride a zipline and match a ski pose in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the first Roadblock, teams were driven to their next clue at Bräustüberl Garmisch.
  • Speed Bump: German White Sausage For their Speed Bump, Zhang Meixi & Zang Yafei had to make and eat ten white sausage of the same size before they could continue racing.
  • Detour: Cheers or Revelry This leg's Detour was a choice between Cheers (干杯Gānbēi) or Revelry (狂欢Kuánghuān). In Cheers, teams had to carry twenty-two full beer stein through the Mohrenplatz without dropping a stein or spilling more than six of them past a line in order to receive their next clue. In Revelry, teams had to correctly perform the Schuhplattler dance in order to receive their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to sing from their heart?" In this leg's second Roadblock, the team member who did not perform the previous Roadblock had to serenade their partner with a Bavarian love song while perched on a ladder with the German pronunciations and key in order receive their next clue. If racers were incorrect, a bucket of water was dumped on them.
  • After the second Roadblock, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Bullachberg Castle, located beneath Neuschwanstein Castle, in Schwangau.
Additional note
  • After this leg concluded, teams returned to China. During this time, Ji Longxiang was no longer medically cleared to continue racing, and Liu Xiang chose Xu Qifeng as his new partner.

Leg 3 (Japan)

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In Tokyo, which hosted the 1964 games, teams gathered at a television studio at the base of the Tokyo Tower to compete in a Japanese game show.
  • Episode 3 (29 July 2016)
  • Prize: A trip to Norway, Denmark and Iceland (awarded to Huang Tingting & Sun Rui)
  • Medically removed: Ji Longxiang
Locations
Episode summary
  • Weeks later, teams flew to Tokyo, Japan, and gathered at the Odaiba Seaside Park. At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to find their next clue at the Star Rise Tower Studio. There, teams had to participate in a Japanese-style game show called "Wasabi Boom Boom". After the first team arrived, the host spun a wheel containing 18 stands with temaki, two which had two "wasabi bombs" (temaki-style sushi filled only with wasabi). If teams received the wasabi bombs, both team members had to eat one within two minutes in order to receive their next clue. If teams received a plain temaki, one team member had to eat it and play until they received the wasabi bombs. Teams then had to travel to the SIM Studio and execute five Judo techniques in order to receive their next clue.
  • Detour: Sailor Moon or Case Closed This leg's Detour based on two Japanese manga was a choice between Sailor Moon (美少女戰士Měishàonǚzhànshì) or Case Closed (名偵探柯南Míngzhēntànkēnán). In Sailor Moon, one team member had to dress as a character from series at the Maidreamin maid café, then teams had to search Shibuya Crossing for the character Tuxedo Mask, who had their next clue. In Case Closed, teams had to travel to Shinjuku Central Park. There, teams had to locate ten pieces of bones and teeth inside a simulated crime scene, mark each spot with a flag, measure the locations and correctly graph each piece to scale on an evidence sheet in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams were driven to Fuji-Q Highland. There, teams had to ride Fujiyama and spot three people holding signs along the ride that, when combined, formed their next destination: 富士 生态 公园. Once the ride was complete, teams had to tell the message to the park manager in order to receive their next clue; otherwise, they had to ride the rollercoaster again.
  • Roadblock: "Who is more agile?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to dress as a ninja and complete three ninja training courses – scaling a wall, navigating a rope course and throwing a shuriken – in order to receive their next clue. Jin Xing & Heinz used their gifted Express Pass to bypass this Roadblock.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Yagizaki Park in Fujikawaguchiko.
Additional note
  • Jin Xing & Heinz arrived last at the Pit Stop; however, Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan used their Return Ticket to save them from elimination.

Leg 4 (Japan → Russia)

[edit]
Near Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, which hosted the 1980 games, teams checked into the Pit Stop at Red Square.
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, teams flew to Moscow, Russia, and began the leg at the Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy. At the start of this leg, teams had to travel on foot to the Maly Krasnokholmsky Bridge, where both racers had to drink a shot of vodka while balancing it on a sabre in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel via subway to a bakery and unload 20 bags of flour from a truck in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to travel via subway to Slavyanskaya Square.
  • Fast Forward: Russian Circus In this season's only Fast Forward, one team had to travel by taxi to the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard and change into costumes. Then, one team member had to walk with a spinning plate to their partner, who had to bring back to the start. Once complete, both team members had to perform a four-part aerial routine. Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng won the Fast Forward award: a Saint Basil's Cathedral figurine.
  • Detour: Hibiscus Out of Water or Military Edge Flower This leg's Detour was a choice between Hibiscus Out of Water (水出芙蓉Shuǐchūfúróng) or Military Edge Flower (軍中緣花Jūnzhōngyuánhuā). In Hibiscus Out of Water, teams had to correctly perform a synchronised swimming routine with six swimmers of the Russian national developmental team in order to receive their next clue. In Military Edge Flower, teams had to dress up as Russian soldiers and correctly perform the Trepak dance in order to receive their next clue. Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan used their Express Pass to bypass this Detour.
  • After the Detour, teams found their next clue at the Moscow State Pedagogical University.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to watch the Olympics live?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member was shown a slideshow showing the time and time zone of either Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro or London, a map of Russia's nine different time zones with their UTC offsets and a blank Russian time zone map with several other cities highlighted. After the show, racers had to fill in the corresponding local times for any five cities within an allotted time period in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Red Square.
Additional notes
  • This was a non-elimination leg.
  • After this leg concluded, teams returned to China.

Leg 5 (China → Hong Kong → Spain)

[edit]
Barcelona's Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, which was the main venue of the 1992 Summer Olympics, was the fifth Pit Stop.
Locations
Episode summary
  • Weeks later, teams gathered at the By Health Production Factory in Zhuhai, Guangdong. At the start of this leg, teams had to search the factory with 100 mascots for 12 most recent Summer Olympic Games mascots and place them in the corresponding shelves of the host cities in order to receive their next clue and their flight tickets. The first four teams received tickets on the first flight, with the remaining teams on the second flight.
Year City Mascot Year City Mascot
1972 Munich Waldi 1996 Atlanta Izzy
1976 Montreal Amik 2000 Sydney Olly, Syd and Millie
1980 Moscow Misha 2004 Athens Athena and Phevos
1984 Los Angeles Sam 2008 Beijing Fuwa
1988 Seoul Hodori 2012 London Wenlock
1992 Barcelona Cobi 2016 Rio Vinicius
  • Once in Barcelona, teams had to search the airport's arrivals terminal for their next clue, which directed them to Plaza de Gaudí next to Sagrada Família.
  • Speed Bump: Gegants For their Speed Bump, Jin Xing & Heinz had to each don a Spanish giant costume and walk around the plaza before they could continue racing.
  • Detour: Torero or Sleepwalker This leg's Detour was a choice between Torero (斗牛士Dòuniúshì) or Sleepwalker (梦游者Mèngyóuzhě). In Torero, teams had to travel to the Gran Teatre del Liceu, watch a medley of songs from the opera Carmen and then both team members had to correctly answer a question about the opera in order to receive their next clue. In Sleepwalker, teams had to travel to Port Vell, where both team members had to don a sleeping hat and carry a bed to the starting line. Then, teams had to convince locals to carry them 400 metres (1,300 ft) to the finish line in order to receive their next clue. If either the teams or the bed touch the ground, teams had to ask new locals for help.
  • After the Detour, teams found the U-Turn reveal board and their next clue at the Mirador de Colon. After travelling to Mercat de la Barceloneta, teams had to memorise and purchase the ingredient listed at the entrance written in Spanish. Teams then had to travel to the Serras Hotel Barcelona, make paella and sample some before receiving their next clue. Teams received a 10-minute penalty for every mistake.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to open one eye and close the other?" In this leg's Roadblock, teams had to travel to Camp de Tir Olímpic de Mollet, where one team member had to shoot down five clay targets with a shotgun in order to receive their next clue. Each round had five shots, and racers' scores carried over to the next round.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Additional notes
  • U-Turn: 4 teams U-Turned Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan This leg featured a U-Turn Vote. Before teams began this leg, they had to vote in secret for a team to be U-Turned. Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan Leigh received the most votes. The teams' votes were as follows:
Team Vote
Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan
Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan
Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan
Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng
Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan
Huang Tingting & Sun Rui Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng
Jin Xing & Heinz Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng

Leg 6 (Spain → Italy)

[edit]
Teams ended the sixth leg on Rome's Ponte Sant'Angelo.
  • Episode 6 (19 August 2016)
  • Prize: A trip to Japan, South Korea and Singapore (awarded to Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng)
  • Eliminated: Jin Xing & Heinz
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, teams flew to Rome, Italy, and began the leg at the Crowne Plaza Rome - St. Peter's. At the start of this leg, teams had to travel to the Trevi Fountain, make a wish with a 1 euro coin and then find impersonators of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn from Roman Holiday, who gave them their next clue and a puzzle box.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to find their destiny?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose a mask and search through a masquerade ball for a guest wearing the same mask in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to Parco del Celio, choose a gladiator and learn a staged gladiator fight. When facing off against the champion gladiator, the first team member had to lose their match, while the other team member had to win in order receive their next clue, which directed them to the Stadio delle Terme di Caracalla.
  • Face Off: Track and Field For this season's first Face Off, two teams competed in three Olympic track and field events: 110 metres hurdles, racewalking and long jump. Each team member had to compete in at least one event. The first team to win two events received their next clue while the losing team had to wait for another team. The last team had to wait for an hourglass to empty before they could continue racing.
  • Detour: Roman Numerals or Roman Trebuchet This leg's Detour was a choice between Roman Numerals (罗马数字 – (Luómǎ Shùzì) or Roman Trebuchet (罗马炮架Luómǎ Pào Jià). In Roman Numerals, teams had to count three specific things in Piazza Navona: the number of balloons attached to a vendor's bike (56), the number of bearded men on the three fountains' statues (14) and the number of paintings from four art vendors that depicted events from previous legs (28). Teams then had to write the numbers into a provided equation [(56 + 14) x 28], solve it (1960) and write the answer in Roman numerals (MCMLX) in order to receive their next clue. In Roman Trebuchet, teams had to assemble a trebuchet and launch a cannonball past a marked line in order to receive their next clue.
  • Each clue envelope during this leg contained letters ('L,' 'E,' 'N,' 'G' and 'A') needed to unlock the puzzle box, which contained the name of the Pit Stop – Ponte Sant'Angelo – in mirror writing, by unscrambling the letters to spell out "ANGEL".
Additional note
  • After this leg concluded, teams returned to China.

Leg 7 (United States)

[edit]
While in Los Angeles, which hosted the 1932 and 1984 games, teams visited Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and assembled Lego bricks.
  • Episode 7 (26 August 2016)
  • Prize: A trip to Norway, Denmark and Iceland (awarded to Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan)
  • Eliminated: Zhang Zhehan & Zhang Sifan
Locations
Episode summary
  • Weeks later, teams flew to Los Angeles in the United States and gathered at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey. At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to pedal a water bike through the marina to their next clue at Mother's Beach. Teams then had to drive to the Dolby Theatre and assemble a replica of an Oscar award using a set of Lego bricks in order to receive a fake Oscar with the address of their next clue printed on the bottom.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to feel the heartbeat of Hollywood?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb a rope ladder to a hanging platform, walk onto a beam, jump off and grab both halves of a hanging clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to the Universal Studios Lot, don costumes and memorise a script for a Western action movie. One team member played a cowboy named Bill, while the other played the damsel in distress Rose. Teams had to correctly follow the script including English dialogue, stunt fighting and falls, gun-slinging and falls and a final explosion in order to receive their next clue.
  • Detour: Mid Court or Full Court This leg's Detour was a choice between Mid Court (中场Zhōng Chǎng) or Full Court (全场Quán Chǎng). In Mid Court, teams had to perform a Laker Girls cheerleading routine set to the sing "Mickey" in order to receive the next clue. In Full Court, teams had to complete an NBA official skill challenge, where both team members had to perform an alley-oop, dribble through an obstacle course, perform a bounce pass into a vertical hoop and perform a free throw and a 3-point shot at the side of the hoop, within four minutes in order to receive the next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Santa Monica Beach in Santa Monica.

Leg 8 (United States)

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The Georgian leg began at the SkyView Ferris wheel in Atlanta, which hosted the 1996 games.
  • Episode 8 (2 September 2016)
  • Prize: A trip to Denmark, Italy and Poland (awarded to Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang)
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, teams flew to Atlanta and began this leg at the SkyView Atlanta. At the start of this leg, one team member was harnessed to a net connected to the Ferris wheel's support beams, while the other racer was inside a capsules. When the wheel was in motion, racers had to grab four ribbons with math equations surrounding the net's frame and relay the equations and/or the answers to their partner. Two of the answers to the math equations were the codes needed to unlock a briefcase, which contained their next clue. Teams then had to drive to the Stockmar Airport in Villa Rica. There, one team member flew in a small airplane and, with their partner guiding them via walkie-talkie on the ground, had to drop flour bombs onto two targets in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the West GA Mud Park in Tallapoosa. Only one team could fly at a time, and teams had four flour bombs for each attempt.
  • Face Off: Monster trucks For this leg's Face Off, one team member from each team had to ride in a monster truck while holding a large container of water and prevent the water from spilling out. The team who lost less water received their next clue while the losing team had to wait for another team. The last team had to wait for an hourglass to empty before they could continue racing.
  • Detour: Color or Beat This season's final Detour was a choice between Color (色彩Sècǎi) or Beat (节拍Jiépāi). In Color, which only had three stations, teams had to correctly re-create a piece of local graffiti art to the satisfaction of the artist in order to receive their next clue. In Beat, teams had to sing the blues song "Wang Dang Doodle" to the satisfaction of the audience in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to drive to the Stone Mountain Park plantation meadow and score 100 cumulative points in archery in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the summit of Stone Mountain. Each team member had six arrows and two rounds to use them within four minutes.
Additional note
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 9 (United States → Mexico)

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In the first Roadblock in Mexico City, which hosted the 1968 games, one team member had to fly with the Voladores de Papantla.
  • Episode 9 (9 September 2016)
  • Prize: A trip to the United States, Switzerland and France (awarded to Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang)
  • Eliminated: Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, teams flew to Mexico City, Mexico, and began this leg at the Mexican Olympic Sports Center.
  • Intersection Face Off: 4 x 100 metre relay At the start of this leg, teams encountered a combined Intersection and Face Off. The winning team from the previous leg determined the team pair-ups to compete in a 4 × 100 metres relay race. The teams were paired up thusly: Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang and Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan, and Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng and Wu Jianhao & Yao Fengfeng. The losing joined teams had to serve a 15-minute penalty while the winning teams continued racing. After this task, teams were no longer joined.
  • Roadblock: "Who can float like a butterfly?" In this leg's first Roadblock, teams had to travel to the National Museum of Anthropology and find the Voladores de Papantla. Then, one team member had to climb a 32-metre (105 ft) pole and swing around the pole suspended on ropes to the ground for five minutes in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the first Roadblock, teams had to travel to the Mercado de San Juan, where both team members had to eat one bowl of fried insects and peppers, each with varying degrees of pungency, in order to receive their next clue.
  • Speed Bump: Tortillas For their Speed Bump, Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan had to make 20 tortillas before they could continue racing.
  • Teams then had to travel to the Plaza Garibaldi, search among 350 Mariachi performers for one who was faking their performance of "Cielito Lindo" and take the performer to a judge in order to receive their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to dance with the cactuses?" In this leg's second Roadblock, the team member who did not perform the previous Roadblock had to put on a dress made of balloons, follow a marked path through a field of cacti and find a sombrero, which they could exchange for their next clue. Teams received a penalty based on how many balloons popped or were lost.
  • After the second Roadblock, teams had to assemble a puzzle of a Mesoamerican mask at Jardin de las Cactaceas in order to receive an embroidered map directing them to the Pit Stop, which they had to search for on foot.

Leg 10 (Mexico → Brazil)

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The final task of the season and the Finish Line were located on Flamengo Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
  • Episode 10 (16 September 2016)
  • Prize: A pair of trophies and a gnPearl pearl necklace worth CN¥1,000,000
  • Winners: Guo Jingjing & Huo Qigang
  • Runners-up: Liu Chang & Jin Dachuan
  • Third place: Liu Xiang & Xu Qifeng
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, teams flew to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and began the final leg at the Windsor Atlantica Hotel. At the start of this leg, both team member had to drink a glass of fresh cherry juice on Copacabana Beach in order to reveal the number of a van with their next clue. After they were driven to Casa Alto Vidigal, teams had to prepare five churrasco skewers and then eat a plate of churrasco in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had play footvolley against a pair of local professionals on Ipanema beach. While the pros could not use their hands, teams could. Once teams scored eight points before the pros scored 21, they received their next clue, which directed them to Praia Vermelha.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to ride the waves?" In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to ride a wakeboard around a course in the water until they could reach and touch a yellow ramp without falling off in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams were driven to Escadaria Selarón and had to search for one of three The Amazing Race China tiles. After giving the tile to a samba dancer, teams had to change into costume and learn simple samba steps. Teams then had to find 20 people to join them in a parade, with each person holding a coloured feather corresponding to their samba clothing, to the corner of R. Teotônio Regadas and Rua da Lapa streets in order to receive their next clue.
  • Teams were driven to Flamengo Beach and had to map out their racecourse by looping a rope through a series of rings attached to a large map, with each ring representing a different city. Then, teams had to search among hundreds of bottles buried in the sand for the ten containing the flags of each country they visited and place them on the map in order to receive their final clue, which directed them to the nearby Finish Line. Teams could only bring back two bottles at a time and had to properly bury incorrect bottles back in the sand.
Cities Flags
Beijing  China
Athens  Greece
Munich  Germany
Tokyo  Japan
Moscow  Russia
Barcelona  Spain
Rome  Italy
Los Angeles  United States
Atlanta
Mexico City  Mexico
Rio de Janeiro  Brazil

Notes

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  1. ^ The winning team keeps one for themselves and gives the second to another team before the end of the fifth leg.
  2. ^ An item which a team may use to bring back an eliminated team before the end of the fourth leg.

References

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  1. ^ 郭晶晶霍启刚将上《极速前进》 刘翔携至亲应战 (in Chinese). QQ. March 18, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  2. ^ "《金姐聊极速》金星弥补极速最大遗憾". Sina Corp (in Chinese). 23 September 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. ^ "[独家]黄景瑜被封杀? 《极速前进》换人《快本》不播" (in Chinese). 15 April 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  4. ^ "刘翔真人秀再展跨栏绝技却被骂 表弟中途退赛". iFensi (in Chinese). 28 June 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  5. ^ "SNH48黄婷婷搭档许杨玉琢 赛龙舟夺冠被范冰冰赞". Sina Corp (in Chinese). 7 August 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
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