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.

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Goldfish, Wuwei

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Tomb #3, Kashgar

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Donkey, Yarkand

Smog over Shenzhen

Jiayuguan Fort

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Kashgar Old Town

Tomb, Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Kashgar Old Town

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Naan baker, Yarkand

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

The Karakoram Highway

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market

The Chairman, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Hats, Kashgar

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang