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.

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Tomb, Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Naan baker, Yarkand

Smog over Shenzhen

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

The Karakoram Highway

The Chairman, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Dutar maker, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Donkey, Yarkand

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Hats, Kashgar

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Goldfish, Wuwei

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

Jiayuguan Fort

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Tomb #2, Kashgar