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.

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Donkey, Yarkand

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

The Karakoram Highway

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Kashgar Old Town

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Kashgar Old Town

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Hats, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Jiayuguan Fort

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Tomb, Kashgar

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Goldfish, Wuwei

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Naan baker, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

The Chairman, Kashgar

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye