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The third and the last installment of The Amazing Race: China Rush. Like the previous season, it contained both domestic and international teams. Also like the previous season, subtitles were provided allowing English viewers to watch. Despite the poor note it started off with bringing back the starting line from The Amazing Race 15, it got better from that point on. The season contained a likable cast that started off friendly, but a case of Cerebus Syndrome later on fueled by Ryan & Charlie turned the season very competitive without removing anyone's likability. This alongside 5 of the final 6 winning at least one leg allowed the season to overcome the issue of one team dominating. In addition, teams frequently had roller coaster placements with every team being in danger of elimination in at least one episode, including the dominant team. However this season contained one of the most memorable moments from the spin off for all the wrong reasons, where one of the strongest teams received a penalty for not putting their bags in a marked area which got them eliminated despite hitting the mat in 2nd place. In spite of its flaws, the season was still well-received, with many fans hoping the spin off will one day receive a revival.

Liu Weiwei & Lei Sheng

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Trainers and friends. They first met when Lei Sheng was Liu Weiwei's teacher, and at times he still acted as though they were a teacher and student. They dominated the season, winning five legs prior to the finale, despite the fact that they often bickered because they couldn't agree on how to complete the tasks, with some arguments lasting even after the tasks had been finished. In the penultimate leg, their race almost came to an end when Lei Sheng was unable to complete the Roadblock and they received a 2-hour penalty. Luckily, Zhang Yelin and Li Yang were U-Turned, saving them from elimination and getting them a spot in the final leg. In the finale, they were able to overcome their 2-hour deficit thanks to an equalizer, catching them up with the other teams and helping them ultimately win the race after they beat Christine at the Final Roadblock.

  • Chekhov's Hobby: One of them served in the People's Armed Police for years helping them in the Roadblock on Leg 2 and winning them their 2nd leg.
  • Country Mouse: Liu Weiwei.
  • Determinator: Despite Lei Sheng's exhaustion, he continued the farm task on Leg 10.
  • Dreadful Musician: Lei Sheng dropped from 2nd to 5th in the pipa task on Leg 4 due to a unnoticeable mistake where he realizes when Karin attempts her first try.
  • Game-Breaking Injury: Subverted, despite Lei Sheng having several injuries that hindered his abilities starting around leg 9, he and Liu Weiwei were the strongest team of the season. Almost played straight in the penultimate leg when Lei Sheng is unable to do the Medicine Climbing Roadblock forcing them to take a penalty, but they were ultimately saved by Zhang Yelin & Li Yang being U-Turned.
  • Hair-Trigger Temper: Both of them, but Lei Sheng had a bigger one.
  • Jerkass: Lei Sheng was very hard on Liu Weiwei at times though he got better.
  • Noodle Incident: In the first leg, one of them said Janelle insulted him the day before the race, but he didn't tell the audience or his teammate what she said.
  • Perpetual Frowner: They never smiled except when they won a leg.
  • Reality Show Genre Blindness: In the midst of their penalty on Leg 11, they told Zhang Yelin & Li Yang (the only team behind them) where the clue was. They justified this by pointing out how long it would take for them to get their and back.
  • Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: They had quite the tendency to bicker.
  • Took a Level in Kindness: In the second half of the race, Lei Sheng started treating Liu Weiwei with a lot more respect and didn't berate him nearly as much as he used to.

Christine Tong & Steven Zhao
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Models and friends from Taiwan. They flipped flopped throughout the race, jumping between finishing at the top and finishing at the bottom. They had an extremely tight alliance with Zhang Yelin and Li Yang, and when they were eliminated in 4th place, they went into the final leg determined to not let Ryan and Charlie win because they had U-Turned their alliance mates. They managed to do just that when they passed the Harvard boys at the smokestack challenge, reaching the final Roadblock in 1st place. However, Christine struggled at moving the heavy blocks, allowing the trainers to pass them, and the models ended up finishing the race in 2nd place, having not won a single leg throughout the entire season.

  • Chekhov's Hobby: Inverted, Steven was hoping the Roadblock on Leg 2 would prepare him for when he joined the army post-race.
    • Played straight on Leg 10 when they pointed out Christine's acting classes and Steven's knowledge of TV could help with the Ride Detour. While they weren't the first to finish, they did get it right on the first try.
    • Once again in Leg 11 when they chose the tea Detour because they drank a lot of it, they finished on the first try.
    • In the final leg, Christine said she had played a game in the final Roadblock on her phone. While she did well, the blocks were so heavy she and Steven didn't finish first.
  • Epic Fail: When Steven was chopping the wood on the Leg 2 detour, he hit the axe so hard the axe head came off
  • Even the Guys Want Him: Leg 2, where Brandon liked both of them because they are hot, which includes Steven.
  • Oh, Crap!: Upon learning after eating 1.2 kilograms of kimchi, the next challenge involved swinging on a swing
  • Tempting Fate: They said Ryan & Charlie would struggle in the tofu selling Detour for being Westerners, only for Ryan & Charlie to finish the task before them.
  • Undying Loyalty: To Zhang Yelin & Li Yang.
  • Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Heights for Christine.

Ryan Burke & Charlie Melvin

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Harvard Graduates. They were one of the strongest team on the season, winning the second-most legs at three, but their extremely cutthroat actions in running the race, like stealing a cab and trying to prevent a bus the other teams were on from leaving without them by standing in front it, turned the other teams and the audience against them and made them the villains of the season. After making it to the Final 3, where they started off the biggest threat to Liu Weiwei and Lei Sheng, they left the first Roadblock in 1st place, only for their taxi to become extremely lost, with Ryan then struggling at the smokestack task. All of this let the other teams pass them at the challenge, and they ended up finishing the race in 3rd place.

  • Badass Bookworm: They are Harvard graduates and were quite strong in the physical challenges.
  • Chekhov's Skill: Ryan used to play lacrosse and he used it to help him catch the butterflies in the penultimate leg.
  • Competition Freak: The reason they are sometimes difficult to get along with, especially when they are in danger on elimination.
  • Epic Fail: They broke the axe on the Leg 2 Detour while chopping wood. Not breaking like how Steven broke his; the handle itself snapped.
  • Jerks With Hearts Of Gold: They had very cutthroat and somewhat obnoxious attitudes and pulled a few mean moves (like stealing Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang's cab). But they were not above doing nice things. They were very nice to non racers (like offering to pay for the axe they broke), and they did some pretty nice things too. Examples include letting Zhang Yelin and Li Yang check in ahead of them to repay them for paying off their taxi and offering to help Janelle finish the Roadblock despite the fact he was convinced she and Karin stole their taxi (though part of it because the other 2 teams had an alliance with each other).
  • Laser-Guided Karma: Subverted, while the cab they stole on Leg 4 took them to the wrong location at the worst possible time (at the Pit Stop) they were able to recover and win the leg. Though played straight in the next leg where Ryan hurt his back when attempting the Head Down Detour.
  • Moral Myopia: They stole Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang's cab, but were upset when Zhang Yelin & Li Yang made the bus go without them.
  • The Perfectionist: Charlie mentioned he is this on Leg 9, and he claims this is why they fell so far behind on the roof tiling task.
  • Perpetual Frowner: Ryan, this was referenced a lot throughout the season.
  • Read The Freaking Clue: On Leg 2 the clue told them to walk to the Detour, but took a taxi giving them a 30 minute penalty dropping them from 2nd to 5th.
    • On leg 8 they are one of the 3 teams that didn't comprehend the Roadblock clue, only realizing it when they indirectly heard Zhang Yelin telling Liu Weiwei what they should do.
  • Revenge Before Reason: In the penultimate leg, they had the opportunity to U-Turn the strongest team Liu Weiwei and Lei Sheng which would've guaranteed their elimination. Instead they U-Turned Zhang Yelin & Li Yang for lying about not having the bus leave without them the previous leg. This is also partially because they wanted to be in the finals with Liu Weiwei & Lei Sheng.
  • Ungrateful Bastard: When Karin helped Ryan turn on his stove on during the Hilton Cooking Roadblock when he was struggling and according to Karin his response was telling her she didn't help him. She concluded that it was because of the stressfulness of that task.
  • Worthy Opponent: Despite Liu Weiwei & Lei Sheng being the strongest team, the fact they were so strong made Ryan & Charlie want to be in the finals with them.

Zhang Yelin & Li Yang
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Dating couple. They came on the season hoping to prove to their families that they were a good match for each other. They were a rather divisive team, as although they had shining moments such as Zhang Yelin singing to Li Yang at the Detour in leg three when the task was too much for her to handle, they were also one of the more cutthroat players in the race, shown when they Yielded Henry and Jennifer in the seventh leg. Despite their cutthroat gameplay, they had one of the tightest alliances in race history with Christine and Steven. They frequently roller-coastered in the standings, but managed to win the eighth leg and started finishing in the top of the pack. In the penultimate leg, they got lost looking for the Roadblock, and only finished it ahead of Liu Weiwei and Lei Sheng, who took a 2-hour penalty. Although they managed to pass them up at the Detour, they were U-Turned by Ryan and Charlie, leading to their elimination in 4th. After their elimination, Zhang Yelin proposed to Li Yang, who accepted.

  • Apologetic Attacker: They felt very remorseful when Yielding Henry & Jennifer.
  • Batman Gambit: In leg 8 they distracted other teams (except for Christine & Steven) to the real location of the observatory in Yehliu Geopark, it didn't really work.
  • Big Eater: Zhang Yelin is the only person that enjoyed the Pinghu fermented egg.
  • Elimination Montage
  • Engagement Challenge: What the race ultimately was for Zhang Yelin.
  • Humiliation Conga: Their final leg.
  • Music for Courage: On Leg 3 Li Yang had got upset after eating the kimchi and couldn't handle the spiciness. Consequently, Zhang Yelin played the guitar for her helping her get through the challenge.
  • Relationship Upgrade: Zhang Yelin proposed to Li Yang when they were eliminated, which she gleefully accepted. Though there is a slight fabrication as in leg 8 both Charlie & Ryan and Janelle & Karin refer them as Team Fiancees.
  • Star-Crossed Lovers: The biggest part of their plotline was that Li Yang's parents didn't approve of Zhang Yelin.
  • Took a Level in Jerkass: Zhang Yelin was originally very nice to Li Yang, but starting at the Jiangsu leg he became a lot more demanding and loud towards her. They are also quite willing to play as strategic as Ryan & Charlie, especially in Taiwan where they distract teams on going to the wrong way of the observation point.
  • Tranquil Fury: Li Yang after they found out they have been U-Turned by Ryan & Charlie.
  • Undying Loyalty: To Christine & Steven.
  • Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Heights for both but Zhang Yelin's fear was greater. Though Li Yang is quite sensitive to animals, especially in leg 11 (which includes butterflies, and a cormorant).

Janelle Loh & Karin von Essen

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Socialites from Australia and Sweden. They joined the race because they were both moving back to their home countries soon, and they wanted to have one last fun adventure together. They became the fan favorites of the season because of their comedic qualities and optimistic attitudes. They were mostly middle-of-the-road racers, only finishing above 4th twice, including winning the third leg via the only Fast-Forward in China Rush history. In leg 9, they finished last after they went off-course navigating the streets of Leishan, but were saved by non-elimination. In the next leg, despite having to do a Speed Bump, they arrived to the Roadblock in 2nd place. However, Janelle struggled greatly at solving the puzzle, causing them to get passed by the other teams and eliminating them in 5th place.

  • Chekhov's Skill: Karin's experience with tiling roofs helped her and Janelle gained some time advantage in leg 9.
  • Friend to All Children: Zigzagged, Karin was ecstatic to be working with the kids in Leg 3 and even carry a child along the ferry trip in leg 8. Janelle, not so much.
  • Honor Before Reason: Karin helped Ryan when he was struggling on the Hilton Cooking Roadblock even though he and Charlie were the strongest team up to that point.
  • The Load: Janelle struggled a lot more than Karin like carrying her own bagpack, and ended up as the cause of their elimination.
  • No Sense of Direction: In leg 9 they went slightly off course when navigating themselves and their Miao bride to the elder's house, dropping them from 3rd to getting the Speed Bump for the next leg.
  • Perpetual Smiler: Both were always smiling even when they were in danger of elimination on Leg 6.

Tang Khai Shing & Tang Khai Sheng
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Twins from Malaysia. They started off running in the middle of the pack, struggling at most of the physical tasks. However, their skills began to show in the third leg when they were the only team to complete the pot carrying side of the Detour, and despite their tendency to argue, they went on to finish in the top 3 for the next five legs, even winning the fifth leg. Their race came to a halt in Taiwan, when their taxi got lost traveling to Fisherman's Wharf to get them to the Pit Stop. After learning they would have to take four different ferries (which would take about an hour) to reach the location of the Pit Stop, they decided to travel by taxi instead and take a penalty, figuring that it would be less costly then the hour-long ferry ride. However, this would ultimately be their undoing, as their 1-hour penalty was enough time for all the other teams to check into the Pit Stop, eliminating them in 6th place with only 2 minutes left on their penalty.

  • Insufferable Genius: Khai Sheng had his moments.
  • Loophole Abuse: They considered doing this in their last leg. The clue advised them to go from Bali to Fisherman's Wharf, but after their cab driver took them to Fisherman's Wharf by accident they considered going from there to Bali and back so they'd still be following the clue. They ultimately decided against this once they saw how long it would take.
  • Malaproper: Khai Sheng called the Express Pass the Express Card on Leg 5.
  • Polar Opposite Twins: Admitted in their introduction.
  • Sibling Rivalry: Where some legs it can escalate into Teeth Clench Teamwork.
  • Sibling Team
  • Tempting Fate: Khai Sheng thought taking a penalty would be easier than taking 4 ferries, this would not be so. Justified as taking the 4 ferries probably would've been just as costly.
  • Theme Twin Naming
  • Weak, but Skilled: They were incredible at every mental task but dreaded the physical ones.

Henry Su & Jennifer Su

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Newlyweds originally from Pennsylvania. On the first leg, they were in first place up until the Roadblock, where Henry struggled at building the swing for so long that they dropped to last, but were saved by a 1st leg non-elimination. For the rest of the race, they would remain at the bottom of the pack, surviving a second non-elimination leg and never finishing higher than 5th place. In the seventh leg, they chose the more physically exhausting Scrap That Detour, causing them to fall behind. Zhang Yelin and Li Yang, who were ahead of them, decided to Yield them to save their alliance mates Christine and Steven, and the Yield would finally take out their last bit of luck, and they were eliminated in 7th place.

  • Born Lucky: On Leg 1, they were saved by a non elimination leg. Leg 3, they were saved by Yu Ping & Yu Chenjing getting terribly lost. On leg 4, they were saved by another non-elimination leg. Leg 6, they were saved because Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang got a 30 minute penalty for not putting their bags in the marked area.
  • Born Unlucky: Jennifer herself before the race. A month and a half after her wedding she got a brain tumor. Before the race, her mother passed away and she felt some guilt about going on the race after that. She also had asthma, which affects her physically.
    • Some of their weak placements came from bad taxi drivers, specifically Leg 4(for not knowing the location of the Show Down Detour) and leg 5(Which dropped them from 3rd to 7th).
  • Chekhov's Skill: Henry was already certified in scuba diving so he was able to excel in the Leg 5 Roadblock giving them their highest placement, 5th.
  • Cutting the Knot: Instead of chiseling their clue from the ice at their first Speed Bump, Henry simply punched the ice open.
  • Happily Married
  • Honor Before Reason: They finished the dragon task in Leg 1 first, but Henry decided to tell Janelle & Karin where to find the dragon statue with specific directions on how to get there.
  • Inspirationally Disadvantaged: Jennifer successfully fought a brain tumor about 1 year before they raced.
  • Real Men Cook: Jennifer was quick to point out Henry was the first male, and the 3rd person to finish the cooking Roadblock in Leg 7.
  • Tempting Fate: Henry felt confident they wouldn't be last on the first leg, which would be the first in a series of last place finishes
  • This Is A Race: Jennifer's response to Henry giving directions to Janelle & Karin.

Ju Xiangcheng (Xiao Bing) & Sun Huailong (Xiao Bang)
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Cousins and BBQ Performers, they were finalists in China's Got Talent. They started out as a very strong team, finishing in the top 4 during the first four legs. After a poor finish in leg 5, they spent the majority of the sixth leg leading the pack, reaching the Pit Stop in second place after losing a footrace to Ryan and Charlie. However, they received a 30-minute penalty for not leaving their bags in the designated area at the Detour. Every other team checked in during those 30 minutes, eliminating them from the race in 8th place.

  • Decoy Protagonist
  • Elimination Montage: After their elimination.
  • Failed a Spot Check: They didn't notice they were supposed to leave their bags in a designated area which wound up eliminating them.
  • Pretty Fly F Or A White Guy: Discussed, they thought that Ryan & Charlie were going to excel at the Basketball Intersection since they are from America. And impress Karin with impersonating Micheal Jackson during the scuba diving Roadblock since they are from a foreign country.
  • Loophole Abuse: On the Leg 2 Detour, instead of directly chopping the wood in half, they dug in the axe on the top of the wood and slammed it down so they couldn't miss (like many teams were).

Yu Ping & Yu Chenjing

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Father and daughter. Yu Chenjing was hoping to use this race as an opportunity to bond with her father. They showed themselves to have good racing abilities, as they were able to finish the leg in 2nd despite being on the second bus and arriving to the Roadblock second-to-last. However, their race came to an end in the third leg when their taxi driver got extremely lost, they lost a lot of time going for the Fast-Forward only to find it already taken, and finally Yu Chenjing vomited at the Detour, earning them a 20-minute penalty and giving them no hope of avoiding being eliminated in 9th place.

  • Chekhov's Hobby: On Leg 2, Yu Ping revealed he worked on a lumber mill for 15 years. This really helped in the Detour. The task judge even complimented his work while they were doing the task.
  • Game-Breaking Injury: He twisted his leg on Leg 2. This hindered his ability in running, but they didn't last long enough to know how seriously it would've affected him.
  • Hair-Trigger Temper: Yu Chenjing said her father was like this in their interview. It showed in Leg 3.
  • No Sense of Direction: They had a taxi driver with this on Leg 3 who contributed to their elimination.

Nick Black & Brandon Lee
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Neighbors. They were the last team to find the correct flag at the Starting Line, narrowly saving them from elimination. In the next leg, despite being the first team to arrive at the Doll House, they struggled at the nesting doll task enough that they fell to the back of the pack. Brandon's struggles at the bed making Roadblock allowed Janelle and Karin to pass them, and they were eliminated in 10th.

  • Ambiguously Gay: Brandon, who called Steven hot in leg 2, and wanted to kiss Allan Wu in his lips if they are still racing.
  • Jerkass: Both of them were very condescending to other racers behind their back and even the task judges at one point.
  • Serious Business: They had this mentality about the race, since they spent 10 months preparing for going on the race. In the second leg, Nick said that while the other teams wanted to have fun, they only cared about winning.
  • Small Name, Big Ego: Both (more often Nick) had a tendency to act like they were the strongest team in the race despite finishing 8th in the first leg and last in the second.

Hao Weiru "Jiajia" & Rob Biggs

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Animal Lovers. Despite both being huge fans of the show, they didn't even get a chance to finish the first leg, as they were eliminated at the Starting Line after they couldn't find the correct flag.


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