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, Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Naan baker, Yarkand

Smog over Shenzhen

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Goldfish, Wuwei

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Tomb #3, Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

The Karakoram Highway

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Donkey, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

The Chairman, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Jiayuguan Fort

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Hats, Kashgar

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

Kashgar Old Town

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand