The Amazing Race China () (Previously known as The Amazing Race) is a Chinese reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. Following the premise of other versions in the Amazing Race franchise, the show follows teams of two as they race across China and around the world. Each season is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in foreign areas, interact with locals, perform physical and mental challenges, and travel by air, boat, car, taxi, and other modes of transport. Teams are progressively eliminated at the end of most legs for being the last to arrive at designated Pit Stops. The first team to arrive at the Finish Line wins two trophies and additional prizes from the show's sponsors.
This is the second version of The Amazing Race to be produced in China, following The Amazing Race: China Rush. This new version is broadcast on Shenzhen TV, and had its premiere on October 17, 2014.
The host for the show was originally Hong Kong-American actor Andy On. However, On only hosted 2 episodes of the first season and due to scheduling conflicts, did not return for later episodes. Singapore-based Chinese-American actor and host of The Amazing Race Asia and The Amazing Race: China Rush, Allan Wu, took over hosting duties for the remainder of the season and for future seasons.
All teams of this version are composed of at least one celebrity from China or Korea.
The Race
The Amazing Race China is a reality television competition between teams of two celebrities in a race around the world. The season usually starts in China and is divided into 10 legs wherein teams travel and complete various tasks to obtain clues to help them progress to a Pit Stop where they are given a chance to rest and recover before starting the next leg. The first team to arrive at the Pit Stop is often awarded a prize, while the last team is normally eliminated (except in non-elimination legs, where the last team to arrive may be penalized in the following leg). The final leg is run by the last three remaining teams, and the first to arrive at the final destination wins two Trophies and the grand prize depending on season. The grand prize for Season 1 are 1,000,000 RMB plus two Infiniti Cars, Season 2 are 50,000 RMB for donation plus two Infiniti Cars, Season 3 were two pearl necklaces valued 1,000,000 RMB, and Season 4 was a one-year drink supply (which was also the standard prize for all the legs).
Teams
Each of teams are composed of two individuals who have some type of relationship to each other. One of the team member is a celebrity of China (Expect one team are son and daughter of a Chinese celebrity).
The participants mainly speaks Mandarin, but between the teams, teams will communicate either in Cantonese, English or Korean.
Route Markers
Route Markers are yellow and red flags that mark the places where teams must go. Most Route Markers are attached to the boxes that contain clue envelopes, but some may mark the place where the teams must go in order to complete tasks, or may be used to line a course that the teams must follow.
Clues
Clues are found throughout the legs in sealed envelopes, normally inside clue boxes. They give teams the information they need and tasks they need to do in order for them to progress. Clues are written in both Chinese and English. Route Info (信息): A general clue that may include a task to be completed by the team before they can receive their next clue. Detour (绕道): A choice of two tasks. Teams are free to choose either task or swap tasks if they find one option too difficult. Roadblock (路障): A task only one team member can complete. Teams must choose which member will complete the task based on a brief clue about the task before fully revealing the details of the task. Fast Forward (快进): A task that if completed allows a team to skip all remaining tasks in the leg and go directly to the Pit Stop. A team may only use the Fast Forward once. Appeared in seasons 1 and 3.
