After pickup from your Beijing hotel, travel by private air-conditioned vehicle to Juyongguan, the easiest section of Great Wall to get on. As one of the Wall ’s three great mountain passes, Juyongguan spans two mountain peaks, and takes its name from the Chinese words for 'pass' and 'laborers’ gathering place.' Stroll along the battlements and enjoy time to take in the stunning scenery, with the ramparts and watchtowers snaking across the peaks.

After lunch in a local non-tourist restaurant, stop for photos at the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube stadiums of Beijing’s 2008 Olympics Village, and then continue to the Summer Palace, the landscaped oasis of gardens, pavilions, and waterways created in 1750 as a summer time retreat for China’s emperors.