09/05/2026
China Day 3: The Great Wall at Badaling 🇨🇳
Today was one of those true pinch me travel moments.
The 1.5-hour drive from Beijing only built the anticipation. Every so often, we'd catch a glimpse of the Great Wall winding across the mountains in the distance, and with each sighting, the excitement grew. Seeing those first sections emerge along the ridgelines made it hard to believe that we were actually on our way there.
As we got closer, we couldn't stop thinking about the sheer expansiveness of it. Stretching across mountains as far as the eye can see, it's hard to comprehend the scale of something so massive until you're standing in front of it.
We took the funicular up, climbing higher and higher into the hills, and then came the moment I'd been waiting for. Stepping out and seeing the Great Wall at Badaling in person was absolutely breathtaking. Photos simply don't prepare you for the magnitude, the history, or the feeling of standing on one of the world's greatest engineering achievements.
One of my favorite photos from today is of the Ensemble executive team who helped make this incredible journey possible: Michael Johnson, Daniel Finkel, Kristina Boyce, and Shahla Lalani. Seeing the wonder and excitement on their faces as they experienced the Great Wall alongside the rest of us really brought home just how special this trip has been. It's been more than just seeing amazing places. It's been about sharing unforgettable moments with remarkable people.
I'm also sharing a photo of Adam Montaserto, who captured so many of the fabulous images from this trip. His talent behind the camera has helped preserve these memories in a way that allows us all to relive them long after we've returned home.
It was one of those rare moments where you stop, look around, and think, "Is this real?"
A memory I'll never forget. ❤️
