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

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

The Karakoram Highway

Hats, Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Kashgar Old Town

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Goldfish, Wuwei

Jiayuguan Fort

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Yurt, Lake Karakul

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Naan baker, Yarkand

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Tomb, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Smog over Shenzhen

The Chairman, Kashgar