You may have already seen the photos from the first half of my trip across Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang – here’s the second batch, for your viewing pleasure. These latest shots were taken along my route from Khotan in Xinjiang back to Lanzhou, which was full of surprises and much more beautiful than I was expecting it to be.

A note of explanation is needed, however. The weather on the last week of my trip was horrible – grey, dirty and wet (there can be few things more depressing than a soggy desert). For completeness’ sake I’ve included some photos from a previous trip to the same region in 2011. I hope that you enjoy looking through them…

P.S. Now that I’ve completed the trip, I’ve taken down my progress map – if you find yourself wondering ‘Where the hell is Charklik?’, the map is still online here.

Goldfish, Wuwei

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Naan baker, Yarkand

The Karakoram Highway

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Jiayuguan Fort

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

The Chairman, Kashgar

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Tomb #3, Kashgar

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Donkey, Yarkand

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Tomb, Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar