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.

Jiayuguan Fort

Tomb #3, Kashgar

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Donkey, Yarkand

The Karakoram Highway

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

The Chairman, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Tomb, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Smog over Shenzhen

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Naan baker, Yarkand

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Kashgar Old Town

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Hats, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Goldfish, Wuwei

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Kashgar Old Town

Tomb #2, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang