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.

“Take a photo of us!”, Yarkand

Big Buddha Temple, Zhangye

Donkey, Yarkand

The Ruins of Jiaohe, Turpan

“Take a photo of us!” #3, Yarkand

Donkey Park, Shufu Sunday Market

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

The Earth Pagoda, Zhangye

Singing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

Daoist Temple Ceremony, Wuwei

Sunday afternoon in People’s Square, Kashgar

Fat-Bottomed Sheep, Shufu Sunday Market

Tomb #2, Kashgar

Lake Karakul, Karakoram Highway

The Chairman, Kashgar

A fine bull, Kashgar Livestock Market

Id Kah Mosque by night, Kashgar

Tomb #3, Kashgar

A snake oil seller’s audience, Kashgar

Tea-merchant’s wares, Kashgar

Hats, Kashgar

Bridle-maker, Shufu Sunday Market

Horse and Cart, Kashgar Livestock Market

Dutar maker, Yarkand

Newborn Yak at Lake Karakul

Kashgar Old Town

Jiayuguan Fort

Smog over Shenzhen

Blacksmith, Yarkand

Naan baker, Yarkand

Kashgar Old Town

The Karakoram Highway

The Hanging Wall, Jiayuguan

“Take a photo of us!” #2, Yarkand

Grasslands, Tashkurgan

Little girl with a shaven head, Yarkand

Hay markey, Shufu near Kashgar

Tajik nomad, near Tashkurgan

Tomb, Kashgar

Yurt, Lake Karakul

Goldfish, Wuwei

Camel and Mini-Camel, Kashgar Livestock Market