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.

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Donkey, Yarkand

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Yurt, Lake Karakul

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Goldfish, Wuwei

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Naan baker, Yarkand

Jiayuguan Fort

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Tomb, Kashgar

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

The Chairman, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Smog over Shenzhen

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Hats, Kashgar

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

The Karakoram Highway

Kashgar Old Town

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Kashgar Old Town

Blacksmith, Yarkand

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei