Hi Bro redwine.... you can google for the chinese language great wall forum where alot of locals discuss climbing various sections ofthe wall in detail.
Or if you cannot read and write chinese, go to the english forum here..... still alot of info
http://www.greatwallforum.com/forum/
The 2 deaths that occured were tragic but could have been avoided..... key hint when hiking high on a hill/mountain -
"Your mobile phone acts as a lightning conductor"
I was up Jianjkou in June this year actually.... also done Simatai, Mutianyu, Shuiguan and Huanghuacheng sections of the wall over the years......
JIANKOU is the toughest bar none .... IMHO
There are no bus services to Jiankou area that I know of.... I rented a private car for the whole day 400rmb (send you there, send you back to Beijing and wait all day for you) .... left Beijing at 3am ... got there around 4.30am and started climing at first light......... if you dont like tramping around in the dark u have to stay overnight on the wall to catch sunrise
Its good that you are not going to Badaling section of the Great Wall.... too renovated and restored and the crowds are loud and bad
Sections like Jiankou, Simatai, Jinshanlin , Gubeikou etc etc etc are MUCH better.... a whole lot tougher to climb as well.... but the rewards of spectacular views and little other visitors all day are worth it (Esp if you go on a weekday)
This a snapshot of the Jiankou section .... no composition or anything... just a regular record shot.........as are the following Jiankou images
Climb carefully..... the nickname of Jiankou section of Great Wall is "Wild Wall" ... it is VERY VERY poor condition with loose stones, bricks and sand all over the place.... no safety rails, no ladders , no humans in sight except the occassional villager selling drinks ..... its very easy to fall......10 to 30 feet from te top of the Wall to the ground.... you can get seriously hurt
Getting TO this section from the foot of the heavily forested mountain alone is a 3+hrs climb.... up. Getting down is actually more difficult because by that time you will be totally wiped out and no legs left.... 4+hrs
I recommend that you wear proper hiking shoes and a camera backpack.... shoulderbag sure die one.
ON the wall..... it is in very bad condition but still so beautiful.... but dangerous.... many many parts have to climb with BOTH hands and feet and a few feet at a time
Bring sufficient food (lunch ?) and water with you... there are NO kiosks at that section selling drinks or snacks
We approached the section at a fish farming village (rear NZ rainbow trout) that is not too far from the Mutianyu section of the wall..... so from Beijing, have the driver head towards Mutianyu section of the wall until you get to a small town (Chang Ping I think) and then ask locals there how to get to Jiankou section of wall instead of Mutianyu
Have dinner at the fish rearing village..... the rainbow trout bbq in spicy sauce is really good.... and should rest for a couple of hrs anyway after you get down... so might as well have dinner there.
Below this is a VERY small section that is still walkable.... excuse my cigar...