Vincent Liu has spent the last 13 years living in Beijing and has often seen the Great Wall at its most popular and well-known section, in Badaling, but that doesn't compare to what awaits him at the segment from Jinshanling to Simatai.

Here, is what Liu calls the "real" Great Wall, a place where every meter has not been painstakingly restored.

Having set off from the Chinese capital at 4 am, Liu eventually reaches his destination, 120 km northeast of Beijing, shortly after 9am with the sun still battling to shine through the early morning winter mist.

The trip has cost Liu and his companion from London, John Ayers, 100 yuan ($15), although an organized tour to the same location, where visitors are collected from their hotel, would cost three times as much.

Liu and Ayers not only wanted to save money but also wanted to travel independently of a tour group, so they would have the Great Wall to themselves.

The walk along the Wall from Jinshanling to Simatai takes four to five hours and in contrast to Badaling, resembles a roller coaster without a safety certificate.

The steep, undulating stairways are particularly dangerous, as many of the steps have crumbled away. At other points, the Wall looks as it might do in the aftermath of an earthquake.

This section has been in place for more than 400 years and dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when it was either built or restored.

The section is, for the most part, in its original condition, and although the temperature hovers around freezing point, Liu has long since stuffed his jacket into his rucksack as he tackles yet another steep incline.

"Badaling is swarming with tourists and T-shirt sellers. Here we really have the Wall to ourselves," says Liu, who has come across just three hawkers and two other hikers in three hours.